When I Thought About Learning Python

Two years ago I intended to learn Python. Then I never did. And there’s a story to that. What brings this up is an article I saw online a few days ago, “VBA vs. Python: Which is the best tool for Excel automation.” It began, as many such things do, with a work problem. WeContinue reading “When I Thought About Learning Python”

Diamond’s Bankruptcy and My Future

Tuesday, Diamond Comic Distributors filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections. For almost eighteen years–212 issues, counting the unpublished (though finished) May 2020 COVID issue–I’ve been the copywriter on Diamond’s monthly PREVIEWS catalog, though that only scratches the surface of what I do. I wear many, many hats at Diamond, and I have joked my businessContinue reading “Diamond’s Bankruptcy and My Future”

So Smart I’m Dumb

Let’s begin with this: Windows XP, running in a virtual machine on Linux Mint. Hell, I even configured the Quick Launch toolbar, and the single screenshot I have of my XP days shows I never used the Quick Launch toolbar. So, why do I have a Windows XP virtual machine running under Linux? Yesterday morning,Continue reading “So Smart I’m Dumb”

Office Space, Three Years On

Last week, Diamond entered the fourth year of work-from-home. I work out of the offices two or three days a week — it depends on the kind of work I’m doing and the projects I’m working on — and have, honestly, since the end of March 2020, but full time in the office, for mostContinue reading “Office Space, Three Years On”

The Importance of Being POP!s

A week and a half ago — where does the time go? — I made this intriguing post to Twitter: Funko is offering Funko POP! vinyl figures of the dueling Gallagher brothers of Oasis, Noel and Liam. Text needed writing, and I wrote it because that’s my job. And I decided, Oasis fan that IContinue reading “The Importance of Being POP!s”

Anniversaries and Old Photographs

Diamond Comic Distributors celebrated its 40th-anniversary today. And, even though the office doesn’t have many people working out of it right now due to COVID, the office was decorated for the day with signs. There was even a banner at the main entrance. I hadn’t been out the doors into the main lobby since MarchContinue reading “Anniversaries and Old Photographs”

Arsene Lupin, Gentleman Gundam

I really don’t know anything about Gundam, even after selling Gundam video games at EB Games, then writing about Gundam models for the past fourteen years at Diamond Comic Distributors, except that it involves giant robots. And that’s okay! I don’t need to know anything more than that. Yet, when I had to write someContinue reading “Arsene Lupin, Gentleman Gundam”