Video/design expert and friend Patrick Davison designed Hello Cthulhu; lunchboxes and mousepads soon to come. H.P. Lovecraft was a top-notch bastard; this image would have probably driven him to an early (and soon unearthed) grave:

Writer and friend C.J. Hauser draws single-panel cartoons, every single day.

In terms of “famous” cartoonists and other drawers, I must note Partially Clips and Achewood (again), which have severely influenced my own stances toward talking animals and fourth-wall destruction.

Pomp & Circumstance, an arts/culture magazine I edit and to which I sometimes contribute, posted some of my thoughts on award shows on their blog, pomponline.com. In keeping with the spirit of these thoughts, I did not watch the Oscars. Advantage: me.

TWIMC (to whom it may concern): I’ve been asked to “rouse the crowd” with a short story before writer-drawer Jonathan Ames takes the stage.

Feel free to stop by and drink free wine and eat free cheese, if so inclined. Ames (The Alcoholic and Wake Up, Sir!, among others) is a funny dude: He reminds me at times of John Hodgeman and the guy who writes Achewood.

The reading will take place this Friday, 6 Feb., at 7:00 p.m. at the 63rd St Y (at Amsterdam Ave., near Lincoln Center/Columbus Circle), in the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater. The 63rd St Y asks for a $5 donation.

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Future Readings/Book Signings At 63rd St:

20 Feb. - Roger Rosenblatt, author of Rules for Aging, Children of War, Lapham Rising, and Beet (from which he will be reading).

20 Mar. - James Tate, author of The Lost Pilot and many other amazing books of poetry. Personal hero.

3 Apr. - David Means, author of A Quick Kiss of Redemption, Assorted Fire Events, The Secret Goldfish, and more.

24 Apr. - Rick Moody, author of The Ice Storm, The Black Veil, Right Livelihoods (a collection of three novellas from which he will be reading), and more.