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Dave Freeman, an advertising agency executive who co-wrote "100 Things to Do Before You Die," a travel guide to inspire travelers to treat each day as if it may be their last died August 17 after falling and hitting his head at his home in Venice. He was 47.
Relatives have said that he managed to visit just over half of the places he wrote recommended in his famous 1999 book.
The guide, subtitled "travel events you can't miss" was one of the first books to create a travel plan based on 100 sites and then market it with a title that reminded mortal readers that time was limited. It became a best seller shortly after publication and spawned an entire genre.
The "100 Things" approach later swept the publishing industry, said Neil Teplica, who wrote the book with Freeman. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times yesterday, Teplica said he and Freeman had come up with the idea for 100 things To Do Before You Die after being inspired by some of the off-the-wall listings for obscure events and public festivals that appeared on www.whatsgoingon.com, a cult travel internet site they jointly ran from 1996 to 2001.
The title meant "you should live every day like it would be your last, and there's not that many people who do," Teplica told The Times. "It's a credit to Dave -- he didn't have enough days, but he lived them like he should have."
"This life is a short journey," read the introduction by Freeman and his co-author Neil Teplica, which summed-up the book's spirit. "How will you make sure that you will fill it with the most fun, and that you visit all the coolest places on earth, before you pack those bags for the very last time?"
Freeman's father Roy was quoted as saying said his son's favourite line was: "We're going to the future. Do you want to come along?". "It always made everybody laugh," he said.
Ranging from the participatory to the sedate, their list includes the Iditarod Sled Dog Race in Alaska; the Pageant of the Masters in Southern California; Mardi Gras in New Orleans; the World Cow Chip Throwing Championship in Beaver, Oklahoma; Carnival in Brazil; Bastille Day and the Cannes Film Festival in France; Oktoberfest in Germany; the Running of the Bulls in Spain; Yom Kippur at Israel's Western Wall; the Pushkar Camel Fair in India; the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan; and Australia's Nude Night Surfing Contest.
RIP Dave.
Information from The LA Times and The Independent World
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There are some of you who may already be aware of this but if you are a comic book fan take note. On Saturday, May 3rd – the comic book industry once again celebrates
Free Comic Book Day!
According to their website FreeComic Book Day, this annual even is an opportunity to introduce your friends and family to the worlds of wonder at your local comic book store. With genres ranging from sup-heroes to action and adventure, Manga and more, there should be something for everyone. Remember this happens just one day this year and it is this Saturday!
Now be prepared for the stores to be busy and make allowances for that. Some stores will even let you have a number of comic books for free, some reportedly allow you dozens. Please note that the title are from a special selection which are listed on the website link I provided above but they do include comics by Matt Groening (The Simpsons and Futurama), Mike Mignola (Hellboy), Superman, Transformers, X-Men, Neotopia, Broken Trinity, Sonic The Hedgehog, Marvel Adventures and The Moth among others.
When you go to the site, click on store locator. this will give you an option to key in your zip code if you are in the States or Canada or a link to click if you live elsewhere eg Australia. This will give you a location to click which will provide you with the names and addresses of the stores participating in your area.
This is a great day for comic book fans.
I have listed some of the Australian addresses
Brisbane
ACE COMICS & GAMES
LEVEL 2 121-123 QUEEN STREET
COMICS ETC
SHOP 5 79/81 ELIZABETH ST
Sydney
KINGS COMICS
310 PITT STREET
KINOKUNIYA BOOKSTORE AUSTRALIA
SHOP R.P 2.02 THE GALERIES
"VICTORIA, 500 GEORGE STREET"
Melbourne
CLASSIC COMICS
4/50 BOURKE STREET
COMICS 'R' US
114 CHAPEL ST.
"WINDSOR, MELBOURNE"
TRADING CARDS AUSTRALIA
16 EVERUGE STREET
MOONEE PONDS
Perth
EMPIRE MEMORABILIA
856 HAY STREET (UPSTAIRS)
Canberra
DEES BOOK AND COMIC SHOP
"UNIT 3A, 55-59 LATHLAN ST"
BELCONNEN
HOUSE OF HEROES
UNIT 1 61 COLBEE COURT
PHILLIP
Tasmania didn't seem to have a listing but there are more addresses on the site.
Take advantage of this brilliant offer and go the website for more information.
Free Comic Book Day
How are they doing this? It is sponsored by many different publishers including Dark Horse Comics, Marvel, Bongo comics Group, DC and the list goes on.
These are the FAQs from their site (as is all information provided above)
1. What is "Free Comic Book Day?"
As the name implies, Free Comic Book Day is a single day when participating comic book specialty shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their stores.
2. When is Free Comic Book Day?
Free Comic Book Day is held the first Saturday in May each year. This year’s event takes place on May 3, 2008.
3. Are they really free?
Yep!
Different stores have policies on how many free comics you can receive, but you will receive at least one free comic if you enter a participating store location. Check with your retailer for their policies and plans for FCBD.
4. Is every comic book store in the world doing this?
If you're asking about convenience stores with a spinner rack of comics in a corner somewhere—the answer is no. This event celebrates the independent comic book specialty stores, thousands of which exist in North America alone. Each one is unique in its community, with a style and personality all its own, and each one carries a full line of comics, graphic novels, toys and related products.
While we hope every one of these stores will take part, each store determines on its own whether or not to participate.
5. Then how do I know where to go to get my free comics?
As May 3 approaches, www.FreeComicBookDay.com will launch a store locator service that will show you participating retailers in your area. Sign up for our e-mail newsletter to be alerted when the database is ready, or check back in early April.
6. Is this the first Free Comic Book Day?
No! This is the seventh time we've held Free Comic Book Day. In the past, thousands of stores around the world have given away millions of free comic books to interested readers. Check out a view to last year’s event!
7. Can I link to your site?
Of course! Click here.
8. Who’s involved in FCBD?
Free Comic Book Day is administered by a panel representing all parts of the comic book industry: publishers, suppliers, retailers, and Diamond Comic Distributors. Each year, publishers apply to provide comic books at cost to retailers, who in turn give them away for free. Diamond handles marketing and logistics for the event, shipping comics to stores and creating marketing materials and mainstream media excitement.
9. What's the big deal about comic books anyway?
Comic books are an original American art form, created in the early days of the twentieth century. They are fun to read, featuring a wide range of diverse storylines that capture the imagination of the readers. That's worth celebrating in our book, we’re proud to be a part of this wonderful medium. To learn more about comic books and their history, go here.
10. Is this just happening in the U.S.?
Of course not! Stores in Canada and internationally celebrate Free Comic Book Day, too! Any comic book store in the world can participate in Free Comic Book Day, although there may be some limitations on which titles are available in which countries due to licensing and other considerations. If you want your local store to get involved, let them know!
11. How many comics do I get?
That will depend on a lot of factors: How many comics does the store have to give away? How many people visit that day? How many people got there before you? What are the store’s FCBD policies? The answer to this question will depend on which store you go to and when.
12. Can you send me a comic?
No. This website is for informational purposes only – we do not have comics to give away. Free Comic Book Day is celebrated in comic book stores around the world and as a way to get customers to visit retail shops. To find a participating comic book store, see the FCBD Store Locator.
13. Which comics are available?
Click here for a list of comics. List is on website
14. Can I grab any comic I want?
Stores will be giving away special comics for the event – you cannot simply take any comic book from the rack. Click on “The Comics” to see the many choices of comics being given away for free.
15. How can I find out more?
To get updates about Free Comic Book Day, sign up for our e-mail updates. It’s infrequent, so you won't be deluged with spam, but it'll have plenty of cool info for you! Plus, check this website as the day in May grows near for new information.
16. What can I do to spread the word?
Tell your friends, your family, your classmates—anyone you think might enjoy comics for the first time—or should start reading them again!
Information provided to me with thanks from CSTS ( Can't Stop The Serenity) Australia New Zealand. You guys rock!
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I recently picked up a book not knowing it was a book meant for children. It's called 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' by John Boyne. It was the blurb on the back that made me want to read it and although it is written for kids it is a story that just as easily speaks to an adult audience. It will certainly distress sensitive souls no matter their age because of the subject matter. It is a simple story with a powerful impact.
It is the story of Bruno, a nine year old, who is moved from his comfortable house and surrounds to a house in the middle of nowhere. He has no friends and no children to play with until he meets Shmuel, a boy on the other side of the wire fence outside his new home. A boy, who like everyone else on the other side of the fence, wears striped pyjamas.
Bruno is completely unaware of the horrendous violence being inflicted on the people of Europe by his homeland. He just knows that his father works for a very important man called 'the fury' and he has moved to a very lonely place called 'out-with'. He knows nothing of the Holocaust. It is Germany. It is war time.
It is Bruno's friendship and loyalty that leads him to climb beneath a gap in the fence to explore Shmuel's world and go on a mission to help his friend in his search for his father whom he cannot find.
The narrative of the book is written from the perspective of the innocence and cavalier attitude of a child, in a language that children can relate to and adults can see for the unmistakable story of horror that unfolded in World War II. This is the author's first children's book after four novels for an adult audience which is probably why it can hold the attention of adults through to its final horrible realisation of evil.
The Holocaust is a hard subject to think and read about but this story is worth the read and would be an incredibly good and gentle way for older children to understand the impact of the atrocities of war. I would easily recommend it for anyone but take into consideration the age, personality and sensitivity of a child if you give them the book. As it says in the quote from The Australian newspaper, 'It haunts the mind for days after'.
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