From Jim Massara N2EST:
"Eric Nichols, KL7AJ, and I are pitching the idea of returning Gil's classic "Jeeves" character in new cartoons to the pages of QST as a Rip Van Winkle character -- the hobby's changed, but he hasn't. We think it would be a great way to celebrate the League's centennial by connecting the hobby's past to its future. If you like the idea, email QST managing editor Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY at bschoenfeld@arrl.org and tell her so -- and share this post of a sample cartoon in as many places as possible."
Jeff goes on to comment further:
"Fellow ham cartoonist/QSL artist Jim Massara N2EST and his partner in crime Eric Nichols KL7AJ are promoting the idea of a returning Gil Gildersleeve's Jeeves to the pages of QST. I think it would be swell to see Jeeves back where he belongs, trying to keep up like the rest of us geezers. It's a grand tradition. Many classic newspaper comics were carried on by other artists far far after the originals passed on. We grow up with cartoon characters like Jeeves, and they become little parts of of lives, and the continuity can be a small but real comfort."
Back to W2LJ - If I am not mistaken, 2015 is the Centennial of QST. I, for one, would love to see this. I am going to send Becky an enthusiastic e-mail. I hope you'll do the same.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Larry, thanks for the support, but the idea is dead as far as QST is concerned. Schoenfeld answered within an hour of Eric’s first query with a short email: “While it is well executed, its ‘throwback’ style is something we try to minimize in QST, as we really need to be looking ahead and not behind us.” She later answered me personally with a longer email, emphasizing that “(QST editor) Steve Ford and I have been mandated by upper management to keep the magazine’s focus as current as possible.” When I suggested simply drawing in my own style so it wouldn’t be “throwback” — I’ve worked for Marvel Comics and numerous animation studios over the years and can certainly drew in a more contemporary style — I was told that they “aren’t looking to run cartoons as this time.” It’s certainly a disappointment (I did some of my earliest pro work for QST in the 1980s), but it is what it is. Thank you so much to those of you who liked the idea. -- Jim N2EST
ReplyDeleteIt is lame and quite a shame. Ham radio is steeped in throwback tradition, honoring the legacy of ham radio operators, clubs, and activities. Tell the members of SKCC, FISTs, or QCWA that they are throwbacks and should be looking ahead. I love editorial cartoons (Jeeves reminds me of AnyMouse, the safety cartoon from my Navy aviation days). You can say a lot with an editorial cartoon, but more importantly, you can learn a lot, too. How many hams continue to pluralize 73? It's a minor mistake, like using there when their should be used. But one cartoon could reverse that trend. And how many articles are being forwarded from QST now? Any? A cartoon could attract a more media-savvy generation, especially if the cartoon images were allowed to be tweeted and posted on facebook. How incredibly short-sighted. I don't subscribe to QST, but with that narrow mindset, I am not sure I want to. While I use paddles and an electronic keyer, I still love the sound of dits and dahs, homebrew antennas, copying code in my head, etc. Nothing is more traditional and throwback than that. If QST is all about looking ahead, I am probably not going to be interested.
ReplyDeleteLame, lame, lame, lame and even lamer yet! We just finished a year of remembrance and now the League is concerned only with the future? If we forget our past, our future is bleak! I urge all my readers to remain undeterred and let the ARRL know how much you like this! C'mon, ARRL, lets loosen up and have some fun!
ReplyDeleteI concur with Larry -- Lame!
ReplyDeleteFabulous idea, Jim. Perhaps, one day, the editors of QST will see the wisdom of it....