Jim Lovell, the commander of Apollo 13, died yesterday. He was 97. I can’t add to anything that others have written, and I won’t try. I read Lovell’s book on the Apollo 13 disaster, Lost Moon, and, of course, I’ve seen Tom Hanks’ portrayal of Lovell in Ron Howard’s Apollo 13. I’ve known the storyContinue reading “A Saturday Miscellany”
Tag Archives: Diamond Comic Distributors
See a Problem, Solve a Problem
At Diamond archiving files for the retailer website is often a convoluted and tedious manual process. For example, the order form files — my purview — go in these two directories here (depending on if they are text or PDF), then they are archived in directories here (again, text or PDF depending) under their “standard”Continue reading “See a Problem, Solve a Problem”
Seeing the Signs in Retrospect
One of the most frustrating things about Diamond’s bankruptcy is that I learn everything about the bankruptcy, Diamond’s financial situation, the future, etc., not through work but through the media. Case in point. Bleeding Cool: Diamond Comics Was Already Looking For A New Owner Back In 2023. And while learning that Diamond was looking forContinue reading “Seeing the Signs in Retrospect”
The First Week
On Tuesday, my employment with Diamond Comic Distributors came to an end. After the sale of the company’s assets to Universal and Ad Populum closed in May, those of us at Diamond who were not let go were employed by Diamond under a Transition Services Agreement (TSA) through June 30th. It was unclear whether ourContinue reading “The First Week”
A Saturday Potpourri
A quick update about work. For those coming in late, Diamond Comic Distributors, my employer for the past eighteen years, filed for bankruptcy in mid-January. For the past month, since mid-May, I have been working for Diamond under a Transition Services Agreement (or TSA); the company was bought by Ad Populum, but I remained employedContinue reading “A Saturday Potpourri”
A Hard Week
Last week was a hard week. The July issue of PREVIEWS went to press. #442, my 217th issue. Except. It didn’t go to press. Not really. This issue is PDF-only. We had to buy the paper for the catalog when the sale of Diamond’s assets to Universal and Ad Populum closed, and the decision toContinue reading “A Hard Week”
Anniversaries and Endings
Today marks my anniversary date at Diamond Comic Distributors. Eighteen years. Started on May 17, 2007. Yesterday, a number of people I work with were let go due to Diamond’s bankruptcy. I’d seen the news that the sale—Ad Populum, the owners of Graceland, had bought Diamond’s assets—on Facebook. I read the press release, and thereContinue reading “Anniversaries and Endings”
On the Eve of the Sale
Wednesday night, a former Diamond colleague contacted me and asked hpw I was feeling about Diamond and the bankruptcy. I talked her ear off, in the Facebook Messenger sense, for a solid hour. “You know the ‘Five Stages of Grief?’” I said. “I’m permanently living three of them–Anger, Depression, and Acceptance.” I’m angry about theContinue reading “On the Eve of the Sale”
A Day in FedoraLand
Friday was a work-from-home day. I could have gone into the office — on the one hand, I felt unproductive on Thursday, despite getting a great deal done, because the one project on my board that I knew would take multiple days was left unfinished; on the other, the office flooded last weekend and wasContinue reading “A Day in FedoraLand”
Don’t Forget Your Towel
Fedora 42 released today, and I upgraded my installation. With a release number like 42, that called for a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy wallpaper. I liked this wallpaper, based on the movie. You can find it here. I really should have the Infocom Hitchhiker’s game running in the terminal — I have it hereContinue reading “Don’t Forget Your Towel”