November

There's a new startup target for the website: November 2008. That will make it a nine-month gestation period for a funny-looking new baby. Costs are spiraling out of control and delays are rampant! But I want to get it right, and I hope the end result will justify the development period.

At least the pieces are falling into place. The website will be established online today, albeit with no real content. The cafepress/qlowntown store is already functioning, with an upgrade coming in the near future. And in a couple of months, I anticipate being in the happy position of drawing my little cartoons, corresponding with what I hope will be fans about the strip, and signing and sending out reprints.

Once the site is up and running full tilt, these blogs will be about more than just the strip: whatever catches my eye or ear will be fair game. For example, the outright lies that I'm seeing in the presidential campaign are upsetting. An election should be decided on the issues, and distorting your opponent's positions is just self-serving and cowardly. I won't say who's said what, because it's the voters' duty to search out the truth and make an informed decision. Remember too that you need to choose a candidate whose thinking processes satisfy you: you want a president who will decide things sensibly, whatever comes up. Whoever gets in next year will probably do a better job than the guy who's in there now, but then so could one of my cartoon characters. Try to elect someone you can believe in. I will say that this year, I don't see either candidate as a horrible choice, and there have been many times when I couldn't say that--at least not with a straight face.

Enough about politics! Autumn has come to New England, in terms of cooler weather if not calendar dates. This weekend may call for the first fire in the fireplace, accompanied by apple pie and ice cream. Wherever you are, enjoy your climate in whatever way you can.