The Post changes 3 comic strips

Loose Parts by Dave Blazek started in today's Washington Post (June 1), bumping Donna Lewis' Reply All strip to her single panel Reply All Lite, which in turn pushed the panel Close to Home by John McPherson completely out of the paper.

Quarantining Coronavirus through Comics at MSU's Comic Art Collection

by Mike Rhode

Like many of us, Michigan State University librarian Randy Scott was sent to work from home when covid-19 began shutting down schools and libraries across the country. To be able to work from home, he had to get creative, since he couldn't take parts of the Comic Art Collection home with him. Scott began clipping comic strips from the Lansing, MI papers that dealt with coronavirus and setting up new subject headings in the collection's Reading Room Index (RRI).

When I checked in with him, and heard that he was doing this, I began sending the daily Washington Post comics pages (I'd been sending the Sundays for years, continuing what crack comics historian Ian Gordon had begun years ago). He's picked coronavirus as his main subject heading, noting "The first mention of the coronavirus (covid 19) pandemic appeared in this collection in the February 13, 2020 episode of Prickly City. Newspaper strips are added here when 5 examples of a title with pandemic-related content are located, clipped and filed in the Library's collection." As of today, he's collected about 600 strips, 400 of which are in the RRI, and 200 waiting to be added.

Strips he's collected include:

• Arlo & Janis (starting Mar. 30, 2020)
• Baldo (starting Apr. 4, 2020)
• Barney and Clyde (starting Mar. 4, 2020)
• Blondie (starting May 7, 2020)
• Brevity (starting Apr. 7, 2020)
• Brewster Rockit: Space Guy! (starting Apr. 6, 2020)
• Candorville (starting Mar. 23, 2020)
• Curtis (starting Mar. 30, 2020)
• Dilbert (starting Apr. 20, 2020)
• Family Circus (starting Apr. 15, 2020)
• Frank and Ernest (starting Mar. 13, 2020)
• Frazz (starting Apr. 18, 2020)
• Lio (starting Mar. 30, 2020)
• Non Sequitur (starting Mar. 9, 2020)
• Off the Mark (starting Apr. 6, 2020)
• On the Fastrack (starting Apr. 13, 2020)
• Pearls Before Swine (starting Apr. 6, 2020)
• Prickly City (starting Feb. 13, 2020)
• Reply All Lite (starting Mar. 30, 2020)
• Sally Forth (starting Apr. 13, 2020)
• Speed Bump (starting Apr. 27, 2020)

New and newly significant related topics include:

• Contagion  
• Covid 19 
• Hand Sanitizer
• Hand Washing
• Hazmat Suits
• Hoarding
• Home Schooling
• Lockdowns
• New Normal
• Quarantine
• Reopening
• Shaking Hands
• Social Distancing
• Staying Home
• Surgical Masks
• Toilet Paper
• Vaccines
• Working from Home
• Zoom

 A typical entry for a Washington, DC-based cartoonist looks like this:

Social Distancing. 
   "Boo Cat Lives and Breathes Social Distancing" (Reply All
   Lite, Apr. 26, 2020) / by Donna A. Lewis. -- Call no.:
   oversize PN6726.S79 Apr. 26, 2020 

Special collections work over the long run and most of this collection probably won't be of interest to users for a few years, and then again after a few decades, most likely for the fiftieth anniversary of the pandemic. But just a cautionary note for those who think they can find everything on the web... this Chris Ware strip from the New York Times from April 26, 2020, has disappeared from the Times' website (and Randy would like a tearsheet if you have it).

Picture from Twitter

That darn Reply All Lite and Michael de Adder

How's this for a reply-all?

Mary E. Worstell, Washington

Washington Post July 9 2022 pA15

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/08/readers-critique-post-an-attention-seeker-gets-just-that/

One big domino was missing [de Adder letter]

Lawrence M. Spillan, Alexandria

William "Billy" Eric Sahm, Washington

Washington Post July 9 2022 pA15

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07

SPX 2019 registration opens this week

Hello Everyone! SPX 2019 is our 25th Anniversary Celebration!! So we are on the hunt for extra-amazing Special Guests and putting together other cool events around this amazing milestone!! We've learned a TON over the past few years regarding exhibitor registration by hearing from all of you, and we want to make sure you have all the right information you need. If you are interested in exhibiting at SPX this year — and we sincerely hope that you are — here's what you need to know for 2019, to be held September 14 & 15. An SPX Exhibitor Registration Primer As you may know by now, SPX has a two phase registration system that combines invited exhibitors with a lottery that in past years has led to a roughly 50/50 split. The two phases are staggered, which allows us to maximize the number of tables available for the lottery. Every year that the SPX team evaluates our list of invited exhibitors on an annual basis. This helps us ensure that we can continue to bring in diverse, talented creators that we feel will enrich the SPX experience for everyone. Every year we'll do our best to ensure that invitees to SPX will include a diverse, vibrant cast of characters — a mix of our long time exhibitors, large and small independent publishers, self-publishing cartoonists, international creators as well as newcomers to comics. KEY DATES FOR TABLES AND BADGES For Invitations: January 14 - Invited exhibitors will begin receiving notices. February 1 - Last day for invited exhibitors to confirm their table space. For the Lottery: February 8th - The SPX table lottery opens. February 25th - The SPX table lottery closes. March 8th - Notify Lottery Winners For Payment March 11 - Payment information sent to all exhibitors offered tables March 18 - Reminder payments due April 5 March 25 - Reminder payments due April 5 April 5 - Payments due for tables and extra badges For Exhibitor Table Assignments and Exhibitor Web Page May 3 - First posting of Exhibitors List web page for SPX 2019 June 1 - Update to Exhibitor List web page July 1 -Table assignments will be posted July 15 - Updates to Exhibitor List web page July 29 - Updates to Exhibitor List web page August 2 - Deadline for submitting badge creator names to be placed in the Program Guide August 12 - Updates to Exhibitor List web page August 26 - Final updates to Exhibitor List web page For Badges In a few months, we will unveil a new process to request changes to the names of your tablemates Badge name changes/updates will be reflected in the semi-monthly updates to the web site. SPX REGISTRATION: Invited Exhibitors How does SPX decide who gets a reserved table? The SPX executive committee will collectively review the invitation list each year to make this determination. If I was invited last year does that mean I am guaranteed an invitation this year? No, not necessarily. It is possible you will receive an invitation again, but four years into the process, we recognize the need to begin shaking up this list. Doing so will allow us to ensure that we can invite people that we think will be a great fit for the show. If I wasn't invited this year does that mean I'll never be invited again? Not at all. The invitation list will change annually. There will not be a formal rotation or cooling off process but our goal is ensure that the process is equitable. Not being invited one year does not mean you won't be invited the next. If I am not on this year's invitee list, can I enter the table lottery? Absolutely. SPX REGISTRATION: Lottery Entrants When will the lottery take place? The 2019 table lottery registration period will open up starting February 8. You'll have two weeks, until February 25, to enter your information. SPX will post lottery information widely on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr as well as our website. You won't be able to miss it. How do I apply for the lottery? When lottery registration opens we'll post an online form that collects some basic information. This year we are doing away with the randomized number generation to cut down on confusion; you will receive one confirmation email, and then an email at the end of the lottery. This registration website link will be shared widely on social media later this week. Please note that we will not be picking the randomized lottery winners until after all applications have been received; this means there is no benefit to applying early or late (except maybe peace of mind). You can only apply for the lottery once, and multiple entries will result in being removed from the lottery pool (unless you email us and tell us you accidentally clicked twice or something, we do have a heart!). You will not be responsible for any payments until after the lottery is complete. How will I find out if I won a lottery table (or half table)? We will notify the winners via email in early March. Winners will then have until April 5th to confirm and pay for their table. Any unused tables will be carried over to the waitlist. If you are selected, half tables will cost $185 while full tables will cost $375. Do I really have a shot at a table from the lottery? Heck yes. We earmark a minimum of 110 tables (out of our total of 270) for the lottery. When you look at this in terms of exhibitors behind those tables over the last three years we've been filling about half of SPX via the lottery. Will there be a wait list? Absolutely. We store the next 75 names after filling our lottery tables and folks get pulled in every year from this wait list. SPX REGISTRATION: Other Questions I HATE this system. SPX, why are you so dumb? In order for us to pull this show off each year, we need to balance limited table space against a bunch of ravenous groups that eagerly take all the tables! Big publishers, small publishers, self-publishers, local favorites, international guests, old faces, new hotness — all worthy and all welcome! Our registration process helps us manage overwhelming interest in the show in a manner consistent with our core values. Most comic arts festivals are by invitation only. We knew that wasn't for us. But a pure lottery wouldn't work either. Community is what makes SPX. We had to find a balance that honored both — and helps us manage massive demand to exhibit at the show. Why not just more add more space?  There is quite simply no larger facility anywhere in the Washington, DC area with the crucial combination of hotel and convention space — but the more important issue is that the indie comics industry is growing even faster than SPX, drawing more and more passionate, talented creators to the medium. It would be impossible for us to expand enough to meet demand without raising prices significantly for both exhibitors and attendees alike. Even if we could locate a venue with a similar set-up and more space — and one that wouldn't totally blow our budget — consider that over two days SPX runs only about 14 hours. With 650 or so creators exhibiting, assuming an attendee stays on the show floor every single minute and wasted only seconds moving from table to table, that leaves a barely one minute per creator. We want folks who exhibit at SPX to have the best chance possible to make money at our show. For the time being — and we're at the Marriott through 2022 — it simply does not make sense to seek a larger exhibition hall space.  Still have questions?  Hit us up on Instagram, Twitter, or  Facebook for a quick reply. We're also happy to chat if you email us at exhibitor-inquiries@smallpressexpo.com. We look forward to hearing from you! Jamie, Devon, Warren and the rest of the SPX Executive Committee Copyright © 2019 Small Press Expo, All rights reserved.  You are getting this email because we know you might want a table to SPX 2018!!  Our mailing address is:  Small Press Expo P.O. Box 5704 Bethesda, Maryland 20824 ‌ ‌

SPX 2017 Exhibitor Information!

Hello Everyone! Planning for SPX 2017 is already in full effect! We're locking in some amazing special guests, getting all sorts of fun things planned, and generally trying to make the best possible show we can for you. We've learned a TON over the past few years regarding exhibitor registration by hearing from all of you, and as we head into the fourth year of our system we want to make sure you have all the right information you need. If you are interested in exhibiting at SPX this year — and we sincerely hope that you are — here's what you need to know for 2017.   An SPX Exhibitor Registration Primer   As you may know by now, SPX has a two phase registration system that combines invited exhibitors with a lottery that in past years has led to a roughly 50/50 split. The two phases are staggered, which allows us to maximize the number of tables available for the lottery.  This is the second year that the SPX team is evaluating our list of invited exhibitors on an annual basis. This helps us ensure that we can continue to bring in diverse, talented creators that we feel will enrich the SPX experience for everyone.  Every year we'll do out best to ensure that invitees to SPX will include a diverse, vibrant cast of characters — a mix of our long time exhibitors, large and small independent publishers, self-publishing cartoonists, international creators as well as newcomers to comics. Key Dates For Invitations: February 3th - Invited exhibitors will begin receiving notices. March 1st - Last day for invited exhibitors to confirm their table space. For the Lottery: February 10th - The SPX table lottery opens. February 24th - The SPX table lottery closes. SPX Table Lottery winners will be notified shortly after the close of the lottery. Depending on the number of submissions it may take us a few weeks to review the entrants for duplicates or other issues before actually pulling the winning names. We expect this to take roughly about two weeks, so you should hear from us by early March. More Questions, You Have Them   We know many of you will likely have further questions, so here's a few quick notes on the way ahead and our process for 2017 exhibitor registration:  SPX REGISTRATION: Invited Exhibitors  How will I know if I have been invited?   Invited exhibitors will begin receiving notices from SPX on February 3.  Invitees will have until March 1st to confirm their table space, with a few reminders sent in between.  Any invitee tables not claimed by March 1st will roll over to the lottery pool.   How does SPX decide who gets a reserved table?   The SPX executive committee will collectively review the invitation list each year to make this determination.    If I was invited last year does that mean I am guaranteed an invitation this year?   No, not necessarily. It is possible you will receive an invitation again, but four years into the process, we recognize the need to begin shaking up this list. Doing so will allow us to ensure that we can invite people that we think will be a great fit for the show.   If I wasn't invited this year does that mean I'll never be invited again?   Not at all. The invitation list will change annually. There will not be a formal rotation or cooling off process but our goal is ensure that the process is equitable. Not being invited one year does not mean you won't be invited the next.    If I am not on this year's invitee list, can I enter the table lottery?   Absolutely.    SPX REGISTRATION: Lottery Entrants   When will the lottery take place?   The 2017 table lottery registration period will open up starting February 10. You'll have two weeks, until February 24, to enter your information.  SPX will post lottery information widely on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr as well as our website. You won't be able to miss it.   How do I apply for the lottery?   When lottery registration opens we'll post an online form that collects some basic information. This year we are doing away with the randomized number generation to cut down on confusion; you will receive one confirmation email, and then an email at the end of the lottery. This registration website link will be shared widely on social media later this week. Please note that we will not be picking the randomized lottery winners until after all applciations have been received; this means there is no benefit to applying early or late (except maybe peace of mind). You can only apply for the lottery once, and multiple entries will result in being removed from the lottery pool (unless you email us and tell us you accidentally clicked twice or something, we do have a heart!). You will not be responsible for any payments until after the lottery is complete.   How will I find out if I won a lottery table (or half table)?   We will notify the winners via email in early March. Winners will then have until March 31 to confirm and pay for their table. Any unused tables will be carried over to the wait list. If you are selected, half tables will cost $185 while full tables will cost $375.   Do I really have a shot at a table from the lottery?   Heck yes. We earmark a minimum of 110 tables (out of our total of 270) for the lottery.  When you look at this in terms of exhibitors behind those tables over the last three years we've been filling about half of SPX via the lottery.   Will there be a wait list?   Absolutely. We store the next 75 names after filling our lottery tables and folks get pulled in every year from this wait list.  SPX REGISTRATION: Other Questions    I HATE this system. SPX, why are you so dumb? In order for us to pull this show off each year, we need to balance limited table space against a bunch of ravenous groups that eagerly take all the tables! Big publishers, small publishers, self-publishers, local favorites, international guests, old faces, new hotness — all worthy and all welcome! Our registration process helps us manage overwhelming interest in the show in a manner consistent with our core values. Most comic arts festivals are by invitation only. We knew that wasn't for us.  But a pure lottery wouldn't work either.  Community is what makes SPX. We had to find a balance that honored both — and helps us manage massive demand to exhibit at the show.   Why not just more add more space?   There is quite simply no larger facility anywhere in the Washington, DC area with the crucial combination of hotel and convention space — but the more important issue is that the indie comics industry is growing even faster than SPX, drawing more and more passionate, talented creators to the medium. It would be impossible for us to expand enough to meet demand without raising prices significantly for both exhibitors and attendees alike. Even if we could locate a venue with a similar set-up and more space — and one that wouldn't totally blow our budget — consider that over two days SPX runs only about 14 hours. With 650 to 700 creators exhibiting, assuming an attendee stays on the show floor every single minute and wasted only seconds moving from table to table, that leaves a barely one minute per creator. We want folks who exhibit at SPX to have the best chance possible to make money at our show. For the time being — and we're at the Marriott through 2020 — it simply does not make sense to seek a larger exhibition hall space.   Still have questions?   Hit us up on Tumblr, Twitter or Facebook for a quick reply. We're also happy to chat if you email us at Exhibitors@spxpo.com! We appreciate your care and investment in SPX and we'll never take it for granted. Thanks so much, Sam, Jamie, Michael, Warren, and the rest of the SPX Executive Committee

PR: SPX 2018 Exhibitor lottery opens today

Hello Everyone!  It's that time of year again! Planning for SPX 2018 is already underway and we're excited for all of you to see what we have in store. We want to make sure you have all the right information you need. If you are interested in exhibiting at SPX this year, here's what you need to know for 2018.   An SPX Exhibitor Registration Primer   As you may know by now, SPX has a two phase registration system that combines invited exhibitors with a lottery that in past years has led to a roughly 50/50 split. The two phases are staggered, which allows us to maximize the number of tables available for the lottery. We feel that having a first time creator with a printed zine tabling next to an established creator with a decades long career is part of what makes SPX so special, and the lottery is a key part of making that possible. If you don't have any questions and just want to get to the good stuff, you can find the 2018 Lottery here! Key Dates For Invitations: February 5th - Invited exhibitors will begin receiving notices. March 1st - Last day for invited exhibitors to confirm their table space. For the Lottery: February 12th - The SPX table lottery opens. February 26th - The SPX table lottery closes. SPX Table Lottery winners will be notified shortly after the close of the lottery. Depending on the number of submissions it may take us a few weeks to review the entrants for duplicates or other issues before actually pulling the winning names. We expect this to take roughly about two weeks, so you should hear from us by mid March. More Questions, You Have Them   We know many of you will likely have further questions, so here's a few quick notes on the way ahead and our process for 2018 exhibitor registration: Invitees How will I know if I have been invited?   Invited exhibitors began receiving notices from SPX on February 5. Invitees will have until March 1st to confirm their table space, with a few reminders sent in between. Any invitee tables not claimed by March 1st will roll over to the lottery pool.   How does SPX decide who gets a reserved table?   The SPX executive committee will collectively review the invitation list each year to make this determination.    If I was invited last year does that mean I am guaranteed an invitation this year?   No, not necessarily. It is possible you will receive an invitation again, but we have limited space and want to make sure we're always keeping the list dynamic. Doing so will allow us to ensure that we can invite people that we think will be a great fit for the show.   If I wasn't invited this year does that mean I'll never be invited again?   Not at all. The invitation list will change annually. There will not be a formal rotation or cooling off process but our goal is ensure that the process is equitable. Not being invited one year does not mean you won't be invited the next.    If I am not on this year's invitee list, can I enter the table lottery?   Absolutely.    Lottery Entrants   When will the lottery take place?   The 2018 table lottery registration period will open up starting today, February 12. You'll have two weeks, until February 26, to enter your information. SPX will post lottery information widely on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr as well as our website. You won't be able to miss it.   How do I apply for the lottery?   When lottery registration opens we'll post an online form that collects some basic information. This year we are doing away with the randomized number generation to cut down on confusion; you will receive one confirmation email, and then an email at the end of the lottery. This registration website link will be shared widely on social media later this week. Please note that we will not be picking the randomized lottery winners until after all applciations have been received; this means there is no benefit to applying early or late (except maybe peace of mind). You can only apply for the lottery once, and multiple entries will result in being removed from the lottery pool (unless you email us and tell us you accidentally clicked twice or something, we do have a heart!). You will not be responsible for any payments until after the lottery is complete.   How will I find out if I won a lottery table (or half table)?   We will notify the winners via email in early March. Winners will then have until March 31 to confirm and pay for their table. Any unused tables will be carried over to the wait list. If you are selected, half tables will cost $185 while full tables will cost $375.   Do I really have a shot at a table from the lottery?   Heck yes. We earmark a minimum of 110 tables (out of our total of 270) for the lottery. When you look at this in terms of exhibitors behind those tables over the last three years we've been filling about half of SPX via the lottery.   Will there be a wait list?   Absolutely. We store the next 75 names after filling our lottery tables and folks get pulled in every year from this wait list. Other Questions    I HATE this system. SPX, why are you so dumb? In order for us to pull this show off each year, we need to balance limited table space against a bunch of ravenous groups that eagerly take all the tables! Big publishers, small publishers, self-publishers, local favorites, international guests, old faces, new hotness — all worthy and all welcome! Our registration process helps us manage overwhelming interest in the show in a manner consistent with our core values. Most comic arts festivals are by invitation only. We knew that wasn't for us.  But a pure lottery wouldn't work either. Community is what makes SPX. We had to find a balance that honored both — and helps us manage massive demand to exhibit at the show.   Why not just more add more space?  There is quite simply no larger facility anywhere in the Washington, DC area with the crucial combination of hotel and convention space — but the more important issue is that the indie comics industry is growing even faster than SPX, drawing more and more passionate, talented creators to the medium. It would be impossible for us to expand enough to meet demand without raising prices significantly for both exhibitors and attendees alike. Even if we could locate a venue with a similar set-up and more space — and one that wouldn't totally blow our budget — consider that over two days SPX runs only about 14 hours. With 650 to 700 creators exhibiting, assuming an attendee stays on the show floor every single minute and wasted only seconds moving from table to table, that leaves a barely one minute per creator. We want folks who exhibit at SPX to have the best chance possible to make money at our show. For the time being — and we're at the Marriott through 2020 — it simply does not make sense to seek a larger exhibition hall space.  Still have questions?  Hit us up on Tumblr, Twitter or Facebook for a quick reply. We're also happy to chat if you email us at exhibitor-inquiries@smallpressexpo.com We appreciate your care and investment in SPX and we'll never take it for granted. Thanks so much, Jamie, Mike, Sam, Warren and the rest of the SPX Executive Committee Copyright © 2018 Small Press Expo, All rights reserved.  You are getting this email because we know you might want a table to SPX 2018!!  Our mailing address is:  Small Press Expo P.O. Box 5704 Bethesda, Maryland 20824

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