When the COVID-19 pandem-ic started in March, a variation on the phrase “In this togeth-er” was seen on almost every social media post, store win-dow or poster seen throughout town.
At first, that sense of unity was felt and compassion was abundant.
Last week should have been Comic-Con week, but even though the experience was limited to pre-produced Zoom calls in place of in-person panels that there was still plenty of news to break down.
Not much of it was good though, especially if you were hoping to go to the movies any time soon.
My sister and I moved to Newport Beach with Mom when I was 18. I made friends with some neighbor kids right away. Surfing was the thing. The waves were usually too small to have a really good time. So when somebody said, “Surf's up!” you went there like it was the first ripe tomato.
Last Tuesday night was the last Hampton Municipal Band concert of the summer. They played with half a band to allow “social distancing;” half a band that sounded like one and a half.
All week Facebook has been helpfully reminding me that there is no Comic-Con this year by posting my photos of conventions from years past. Thanks for that, Zuck.
The photos are almost bizarre to look at. A sea of densely packed people from all over the world where the only masks in sight belong to the cosplayers. It's hard to believe how quickly things can change.
The COVID-19 pandemic is not over.
These numbers are a warning sign that the pandemic is getting worse – not better – in Iowa:
• Record high daily total of 769 new confirmed COVID-19 cases last weekend
• More than 35,000 con-firmed cases statewide
• More than 750 confirmed Iowa deaths from COVID-19
It's something I look forward to every year. The annual release of the Comic-Con International panel schedule.
It forms the foundation of the Comic-Con experience, dictating where I'll be for the bulk of my annual pilgrimage.
Last week, the schedule for this year's Comic-Con was released. Just like it would be any other year.
Kind of.
I've been pleased in recent weeks to have some thoughtful responses to this column. They contrast to some I'll mention here just to make us thankful for the civil discussion we treasure.
Civil discourse does not include personal attacks or one line rebukes with no supporting information.
We did it! We're halfway through 2020!
To say that this has been a challenging year would be an understatement. It seems that every month we get some horrendous new disaster to deal with.
Karl and I had reservations to fly to California to see fami-ly...until last night. The airline texted that the flights were canceled. So that's on my mind right now.
The game is afoot!
It's been a while since I've written about copyright law, but now there's a case sure to interest. Last week the Conan Doyle Estate filed a lawsuit against Netflix over their upcoming film "Enola Holmes."
I've always thought it was just Rhode Island. But the news says that they are now chang-ing the state's name to Rhode Island from “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (as on state docu-ments).” The word “planta-tions” is offensive.
The state budget is paid for with Iowans’ hard-earned tax dollars and should reflect your priorities. That’s why a bal-anced budget based on the latest revenue estimates is the first and foremost obligation of the Legislature.
Unfortunately, the $8 bil-lion bundle approved for the fiscal year beginning July 1 failed Iowans on many levels.
