Here’s a review of Volume 3 of Seven Stories Press’ “The Graphic Canon,” an anthology of classic literature adapted to comics form by cartoonists, edited by Russ Kick. It features my 8-page adaptation of Sherwood Anderson’s classic short story “Hands” from “Winesburg, Ohio.”

So as you’ve no doubt noticed, the Rallblog is now running at lightening speed due to the outstanding efforts of WordPress expert Alex Williams of Thermal Exposure. Alex has kindly agreed to work on this project for less than his usual fee and less than he deserves. However, he is not free — nor are the increased costs of the faster server that is running things on the back end here.

Toward that end, please consider contributing to my first fundraiser in a pretty long time (compared to other websites). The next step is to move the Rallblog into the year 2013, or maybe even 2014, with a design and web architecture that is more user-friendly and increases features that you want and need. Alex will be managing the redesign.

To support the transition of the blog, please check out the thermometer in the sidebar to the right. You can donate via PayPal or old-fashioned check or money order, either way. Also, whether you can afford to donate or not, please add your likes, dislikes and comments and wishes for the blog to the comments thread here and Alex and I will consider all of them.

Just a reminder: this is the new model. If you want stuff you like to continue, readers have to pay for them themselves. I wish it were different! But it’s not. Thanks in advance.

If you’re going to San Diego Comicon later this week, I would love to meet you. Here is my schedule:

Thursday, July 18, 3:00-5:00 pm: I’ll be signing books at the NBM Booth (1714)

Friday, July 19, 3:00-5:00 pm: Again, I’ll be signing books at the NBM Booth (1714)

Saturday, July 20, 10:30 am – I’ll be signing free prints at the Universal Uclick Booth (1018)

Saturday, July 20, 3:30-4:30 pm – I’ll be on the “Monsters of Alternative Comics” panel – also with Keith Knight, Shannon Wheeler and Steven Notley – room 5AB inside the Convention Center

As a sop to journalists, at least those from large corporate-owned press organizations, the Obama administration has announced that it is willing to consider granting advanced notice to the news organizations who employ reporters that the administration is planning to spy upon.

What about freelancers?

So here’s an angle on Edward Snowden that I would really like to see an enterprising reporter look into. How much luggage did he bring? How much cash? Do his credit cards still work? Who is paying for his room at the Novotel at the Moscow transit zone? On a practical level, how is he living day to day? Ordering room service? Does he go to the gym? What’s he up to? Is he reading? Did he bring a Kindle? Inquiring minds want to know!

Machiavelli counseled that one should always give his enemy a graceful out, a means of escape that preserves his dignity and allows him to live decently after his defeat. Never box anyone in. A cornered animal has no choice but to bite.

Machiavelli’s advice is worth remembering in light of breaking news that Edward Snowden, the NSA leaker, has been forced to accept political asylum in Russia.

From the standpoint of United States, and its intelligence agencies in particular, there could be no worst possible outcome. Never doubt for a moment that the FSB is about to get its claws on those five laptops full of NSA intelligence files that he’s been lugging around. It would’ve been far smarter for the US to allow Snowden to make his way to Venezuela or Ecuador or Bolivia.

Between VP Joe Biden’s phone calls to Latin American leaders sucking up to them while threatening them, scrambling air-traffic control networks all over Europe to block the flight of the president of Bolivia on the off chance that he might be trying to spirit Snowden away from Moscow, and the threat of trade sanctions and diplomatic problems to any country that would consider taking him in, the United States’ diplomatic offensive has been relentless and thuggish.

Some cultural historians attribute America’s general approach – crushing enemies with ruthless efficiency – to our Anglo-Saxon heritage. I don’t know if there’s any truth to that or not, but there’s no denying that we use a sledgehammer when something a little bit more subtle would plainly be more effective. Here is yet another example.

I went on Chinese TV to engage in a discussion about what happens next in post-US occupied Afghanistan.

Here’s my schedule for signing books at San Diego Comicon 2013. I look forward to seeing you there! Feel free to bring copies of my old books and cash to use to buy original artwork and my latest books.

July 18-21, 2013
San Diego Comicon
Thursday, July 18, 3:00-5:00 pm at the NBM Booth (1714)
Friday, July 19, 3:00-5:00 pm at the NBM Booth (1714)
Saturday, July 20, 10:30 am – at the Universal Uclick Booth