It's been a while since I've had much in the way of transcription work, and I hear from Andy Mangels that the BCI work will be coming to an end soon, if it's not at an end already... so, I'm hereby announcing on this blog that I am available for free-lance transcription work!
In the past, I have done transcriptions of interviews for Mark Evanier (when he was doing his CBG column), TwoMorrows Publishing, David J. Spurlock's book series, Charlton Spotlight, and of course, BCI's DVD releases.
Rates can be negotiable, based on the product being produced. For example, I know that small-press publications don't have the budget that other companies may have.
My basic rates are as follows:
Video Tape - $30 per hour of recordings, billed in 15-minute segments (mininum charge $30). In the event of several recordings are provided, I will take the total time and bill based on that time. If timestamps are needed (as is the usual case for transcribing interviews for DVDs), those can be put in the transcript, based on minutes and seconds. VHS tapes only -- my DVD player doesn't work that well for fast rewinding and fast forwarding. If the DVD isn't copy-protected, I can dub to VHS tape if necessary.
Audio Tape - $25 per hour of recording, billed in 15-minute segments (mininum charge $25). Recordings should be provided on standard cassette tape whenever possible, but if microcassette is all that's available, I can dub to standard tape. Sound levels should be fairly high -- if you can't make out what's being said on the tape, I probably won't, either.
In addition, I also ask that at least one comp copy of the final product be sent to me upon publication. I also ask for credit of some kind to be provided in the final product.
I pride myself on fast turnarounds and accurate transcriptions. I always spell-check my work, and provide the completed transcriptions in Microsoft Word format. If preferred, I can copy and paste the contents into an email.
If tapes need to be returned, I will include the cost of shipping them back in my billing, which will be submitted either at the end of the completed job, or once a month on or about the first of the month. If your billing is done on a particular day of the month, let me know in advance and I can send my billing to coincide with that. In the event of a very large job, I may break up the billing into two-week intervals.
If you are interested in using my services, you can contact me at waffyjon@comcast.net, at which time I will be happy to provide my telephone number and shipping address.
Thank you for your consideration!
Jon
Jon's Random Acts of Geekery is your five days a week destination for old-school geekery!
Saturday, February 24, 2007
My Employee of the Year Nomination
As many of you know, I didn't get Employee of the Year for my department this year... but I did get nominated, and I wanted to share what was said with you faithful readers:
Jon Knutson redefined what Superior Performance means in 2006. Jon continues to raise the bar for what is considered legendary customer service, initiative and productivity. He has proven to be an outstanding team player, organizing and facilitating continued training for both his co-workers and himself. His commitment to excellence as well as his work ethic and his productivity have made him a first-rate example for all to follow.
Sales reps regularly email and stop his manager in passing to rave about his dedication to customer service as well as the quantity and quality of work that he does on a daily basis. The following are some of the comments that define his work performance:
“…The majority of my clients are high maintenance and with all the ads that I process it is sometimes difficult to keep an eye on them all. But, with Jon’s watchful eye, he has made the process much easier. I appreciate the teamwork. It is obvious that he has pride in workmanship and looks out for the reputation of his department and the paper in general. It is my hope that Jon will be recognized for his continuing efforts to produce a quality product.
To expect excellence, you must provide excellence and Jon is an EXCELLENT coworker!...” – Nomination for Employee of the Month, May 2006
“I would like to share with you some of the successes we have which I can attribute directly to Jon’s contributions.
Jon took the initiative to update the look of Phyl’s Furniture’s weekly advertising campaign. The client was pleased that we took the initiative and has since updated their campaigns in all markets to match the look that Jon designed.
Jon serves as a guardian designer for many of our clients. J & I recently made a major decision to drop their agency, in part due to the confidence they have in the quality of Jon’s work. In addition, Jon has received many positive comments from several clients. McKinney’s shared that because of the updated look of their ads they have had customers and other advertisers compliment their campaigns.
Jon is creative and consistently looks for opportunities to improve the quality and effectiveness of advertisements, which helps in developing partnerships with our advertisers.”
“To help with staff shortages, Jon has taken on building the Career Builder Weekly section every week – Not only is he making sure the section is done, he has been rebuilding the pages with new stories (Previously, the same section was picked up week to week and just the folios were changed).
Another example of Jon’s superior work was last February, when he came to the rescue in a big way. XXXXX XXXXXX had just gone in for major surgery – and I had a death in the family, requiring me to leave for the east coast. In addition to helping with other sections that week, Jon took on putting together the March edition of Best Bets with no instructions.”
No matter what the request, Jon is always willing to help. Whether it’s assisting the advertising department with special projects, or simply helping his co-workers with technical questions, Jon consistently goes above and beyond all expectations. He has created training material to assist new employees, developed specs for countless special sections, and has assisted both the advertising and marketing departments during staff shortages. From his Manager, the Advertising staff or his co-workers, he has become the “go-to” person in the Prepress Department
In an industry that is constantly redefining itself, Jon has proven time and time again that he can adapt to any situation. It’s his ability to embrace change that helps Prepress stay ahead of the curve.
I may be sharing stuff from this year's evaluation with you in the next week or so, as well. As you can see, my manager and fellow employees think pretty highly of me. I feel very good about what was said, and while I didn't get the big prize, this is at least some recognition for what I've done.
Jon
Jon Knutson redefined what Superior Performance means in 2006. Jon continues to raise the bar for what is considered legendary customer service, initiative and productivity. He has proven to be an outstanding team player, organizing and facilitating continued training for both his co-workers and himself. His commitment to excellence as well as his work ethic and his productivity have made him a first-rate example for all to follow.
Sales reps regularly email and stop his manager in passing to rave about his dedication to customer service as well as the quantity and quality of work that he does on a daily basis. The following are some of the comments that define his work performance:
“…The majority of my clients are high maintenance and with all the ads that I process it is sometimes difficult to keep an eye on them all. But, with Jon’s watchful eye, he has made the process much easier. I appreciate the teamwork. It is obvious that he has pride in workmanship and looks out for the reputation of his department and the paper in general. It is my hope that Jon will be recognized for his continuing efforts to produce a quality product.
To expect excellence, you must provide excellence and Jon is an EXCELLENT coworker!...” – Nomination for Employee of the Month, May 2006
“I would like to share with you some of the successes we have which I can attribute directly to Jon’s contributions.
Jon took the initiative to update the look of Phyl’s Furniture’s weekly advertising campaign. The client was pleased that we took the initiative and has since updated their campaigns in all markets to match the look that Jon designed.
Jon serves as a guardian designer for many of our clients. J & I recently made a major decision to drop their agency, in part due to the confidence they have in the quality of Jon’s work. In addition, Jon has received many positive comments from several clients. McKinney’s shared that because of the updated look of their ads they have had customers and other advertisers compliment their campaigns.
Jon is creative and consistently looks for opportunities to improve the quality and effectiveness of advertisements, which helps in developing partnerships with our advertisers.”
“To help with staff shortages, Jon has taken on building the Career Builder Weekly section every week – Not only is he making sure the section is done, he has been rebuilding the pages with new stories (Previously, the same section was picked up week to week and just the folios were changed).
Another example of Jon’s superior work was last February, when he came to the rescue in a big way. XXXXX XXXXXX had just gone in for major surgery – and I had a death in the family, requiring me to leave for the east coast. In addition to helping with other sections that week, Jon took on putting together the March edition of Best Bets with no instructions.”
No matter what the request, Jon is always willing to help. Whether it’s assisting the advertising department with special projects, or simply helping his co-workers with technical questions, Jon consistently goes above and beyond all expectations. He has created training material to assist new employees, developed specs for countless special sections, and has assisted both the advertising and marketing departments during staff shortages. From his Manager, the Advertising staff or his co-workers, he has become the “go-to” person in the Prepress Department
In an industry that is constantly redefining itself, Jon has proven time and time again that he can adapt to any situation. It’s his ability to embrace change that helps Prepress stay ahead of the curve.
I may be sharing stuff from this year's evaluation with you in the next week or so, as well. As you can see, my manager and fellow employees think pretty highly of me. I feel very good about what was said, and while I didn't get the big prize, this is at least some recognition for what I've done.
Jon
Emerald City Comic-Con Trivia Contest: The Rules (so far)
OK, you faithful readers of this blog are getting an advance peek at the rules of the ECCC trivia contest, and how it will work!
The pro team (as if this writing) will be comprised of Mark Waid, Kurt Busiek, and Tom Peyer.
There will be four games played maximum. Each game will be played by a separate team of four fans. These teams can be formed in advance, or made on the spot just prior to the contest. Sign-ups will be available at the site of the contest after the previous panel has entered. In the event that more than four teams sign up, then participation will be via drawing.
Once the rules are read, I will have one of the pros randomly draw the name of the first team, and they will be called up to take their place on the panel. One member of the team will be designated team captain, and be spokesman for the group. I will only accept the answer from the team captain.
Before the game begins, the fan team will get to choose one of several props. This prop can be used once during the game, and it will be up to the team captain to decide when to use the prop. How the prop will be used, and what effect is has, will be announced after it is selected. The props will be (subject to change between now and March 31):
Barry Allen's Flash Ring
Red Kryptonite
Wonder Woman's Magic Lasso
Jimmy Olsen's Superman Signal Watch
Two-Face's Two-Headed Coin
The Cosmic Cube
The Fantasti-Flare
Other props may be added between now and then, depending on what I can come up with.
Each game will be a timed event. If we have four teams, each game will last about 12 minutes. If there are fewer teams, more time will be allowed. Since this is a timed event, it's important for the fan teams to decide quickly on an answer... because spending lots of time and not being able to come up with an answer for a question can mean less chances to earn points!
Each game will have up to two rounds of questions. Each round will have five categories of five questions each. Each question will be worth from one to five points, depending on difficulty. Some questions may be eligible for partial points.
The game begins when the team captain chooses the first category and point value. I will read the question, and the fan teams get first shot at answering. If they are correct, they will earn those points and get to choose a new category and point value.
If the fans get the question wrong, the pro team gets to answer. If the pro team answers correctly, they get the points and get to choose the next category and point value. However, the fans always get first try at the questions.
Why is it this way? 1) I'm not able to make buzzers that will indicate who buzzed first, and 2) to give the fans an advantage!
My wife, Jessi, will be the official timekeeper and scorekeeper. If possible, I will have the scores displayed during the game so everyone can see how things are going. If not, they will be announced periodically.
In the event that a game ends in a tie, a special tiebreaker question will be used.
The pros will be encouraged to have fun with this thing, offering jokes relating to the questions if they have them, making smart-ass comments, and so forth.
Prizes, if any, will be announced at the panel itself.
Jon
The pro team (as if this writing) will be comprised of Mark Waid, Kurt Busiek, and Tom Peyer.
There will be four games played maximum. Each game will be played by a separate team of four fans. These teams can be formed in advance, or made on the spot just prior to the contest. Sign-ups will be available at the site of the contest after the previous panel has entered. In the event that more than four teams sign up, then participation will be via drawing.
Once the rules are read, I will have one of the pros randomly draw the name of the first team, and they will be called up to take their place on the panel. One member of the team will be designated team captain, and be spokesman for the group. I will only accept the answer from the team captain.
Before the game begins, the fan team will get to choose one of several props. This prop can be used once during the game, and it will be up to the team captain to decide when to use the prop. How the prop will be used, and what effect is has, will be announced after it is selected. The props will be (subject to change between now and March 31):
Barry Allen's Flash Ring
Red Kryptonite
Wonder Woman's Magic Lasso
Jimmy Olsen's Superman Signal Watch
Two-Face's Two-Headed Coin
The Cosmic Cube
The Fantasti-Flare
Other props may be added between now and then, depending on what I can come up with.
Each game will be a timed event. If we have four teams, each game will last about 12 minutes. If there are fewer teams, more time will be allowed. Since this is a timed event, it's important for the fan teams to decide quickly on an answer... because spending lots of time and not being able to come up with an answer for a question can mean less chances to earn points!
Each game will have up to two rounds of questions. Each round will have five categories of five questions each. Each question will be worth from one to five points, depending on difficulty. Some questions may be eligible for partial points.
The game begins when the team captain chooses the first category and point value. I will read the question, and the fan teams get first shot at answering. If they are correct, they will earn those points and get to choose a new category and point value.
If the fans get the question wrong, the pro team gets to answer. If the pro team answers correctly, they get the points and get to choose the next category and point value. However, the fans always get first try at the questions.
Why is it this way? 1) I'm not able to make buzzers that will indicate who buzzed first, and 2) to give the fans an advantage!
My wife, Jessi, will be the official timekeeper and scorekeeper. If possible, I will have the scores displayed during the game so everyone can see how things are going. If not, they will be announced periodically.
In the event that a game ends in a tie, a special tiebreaker question will be used.
The pros will be encouraged to have fun with this thing, offering jokes relating to the questions if they have them, making smart-ass comments, and so forth.
Prizes, if any, will be announced at the panel itself.
Jon
How My Saturday Went...
I was awakened at 9:30 this morning by Jessi, who was back from her Weight Watchers meeting and ready for breakfast...
...she also had news of our plans for the day.
Now, Friday night, when I went to bed, we had nothing planned for today, outside of taking the dogs for a walk (which was cancelled due to rain). However, after Weight Watchers, Jessi headed over to the local Borders store, because they were having a sale on children's books (which we've been accumulating in preparation for the arrival of our foster child), but they weren't opening until 10.
So, she figured we'd head up to Tacoma after breakfast, and hit Half-Price Books (always enjoyable, but moreso when I've got cash to spend, which I didn't this time). Before going to Half-Price, though, we went to Babies R Us, where Jessi and my mother had bought most of the bedding and decor for the child's room, in hopes we could find some of the other items they didn't buy the last time. We got a trash can and a tissue dispenser in the same sealife theme.
We were hoping to get the crib quilt in the set, to go with the crib (duh!), but that's only available locally as part of an entire set of bedding, some of which we're not allowed to use with a foster child (and is pretty pricy, really). We did note the manufacturer's website, which we hoped we'd be able to order from, or at least find another source for their stuff.
From there, we went to Half-Price as planned, where we bought a few Madeline books and a few other children's books, as well as two books about foster parenting and adoption and another book with nearly 400 things to do with your child that doesn't involve television (good stuff in that book... we'll have to start saving up some of the items it calls for in the arts and crafts projects).
Next up was a trip to Tacoma's Grocery Outlet store, to pick up some groceries that didn't require refrigeration and would help get us through the rest of this week.
From there, we headed over to the local Lowe's store, because Jessi's got a window in her office she wanted to put some long planters on, because she likes having plants wherever she is. We didn't find anything there, however, so we headed over to Sizzler, where we met my parents for a late lunch/early dinner.
We had a good time visiting with my parents and eating, and then we headed back to Lacey, where we first stopped at Home Depot, where I spotted the perfect planter for her office! Then it was off to Big Lots, where we bought some rawhide bones for the dogs, and then back home!
We watched Friday's episode of Psych (a fun one, involving poker... too bad next week's already the season finale!), and then Jessi went to bed while I worked on trying to finish up the laundry here.
We've been having some issues with laundry the past few weeks... our washer doesn't do that great a job in the spin cycle, so we've been running the dryer through at least two cycles (and spin cycling stuff at least twice, if not three times). We're hoping at some time in the near future we can get a new washer and dryer that'll be more energy-efficient!
And that leads me to making this blog post!
Jon
...she also had news of our plans for the day.
Now, Friday night, when I went to bed, we had nothing planned for today, outside of taking the dogs for a walk (which was cancelled due to rain). However, after Weight Watchers, Jessi headed over to the local Borders store, because they were having a sale on children's books (which we've been accumulating in preparation for the arrival of our foster child), but they weren't opening until 10.
So, she figured we'd head up to Tacoma after breakfast, and hit Half-Price Books (always enjoyable, but moreso when I've got cash to spend, which I didn't this time). Before going to Half-Price, though, we went to Babies R Us, where Jessi and my mother had bought most of the bedding and decor for the child's room, in hopes we could find some of the other items they didn't buy the last time. We got a trash can and a tissue dispenser in the same sealife theme.
We were hoping to get the crib quilt in the set, to go with the crib (duh!), but that's only available locally as part of an entire set of bedding, some of which we're not allowed to use with a foster child (and is pretty pricy, really). We did note the manufacturer's website, which we hoped we'd be able to order from, or at least find another source for their stuff.
From there, we went to Half-Price as planned, where we bought a few Madeline books and a few other children's books, as well as two books about foster parenting and adoption and another book with nearly 400 things to do with your child that doesn't involve television (good stuff in that book... we'll have to start saving up some of the items it calls for in the arts and crafts projects).
Next up was a trip to Tacoma's Grocery Outlet store, to pick up some groceries that didn't require refrigeration and would help get us through the rest of this week.
From there, we headed over to the local Lowe's store, because Jessi's got a window in her office she wanted to put some long planters on, because she likes having plants wherever she is. We didn't find anything there, however, so we headed over to Sizzler, where we met my parents for a late lunch/early dinner.
We had a good time visiting with my parents and eating, and then we headed back to Lacey, where we first stopped at Home Depot, where I spotted the perfect planter for her office! Then it was off to Big Lots, where we bought some rawhide bones for the dogs, and then back home!
We watched Friday's episode of Psych (a fun one, involving poker... too bad next week's already the season finale!), and then Jessi went to bed while I worked on trying to finish up the laundry here.
We've been having some issues with laundry the past few weeks... our washer doesn't do that great a job in the spin cycle, so we've been running the dryer through at least two cycles (and spin cycling stuff at least twice, if not three times). We're hoping at some time in the near future we can get a new washer and dryer that'll be more energy-efficient!
And that leads me to making this blog post!
Jon
Friday, February 23, 2007
Packaging Comics for Shipping
So I've been asked about packaging comics for shipping after they're sold on eBay... and I figured I may as well share my tips with all of you!
The first thing to consider is how you're planning on shipping your books. Are you going to ship UPS, or through the Post Office? If through the Post Office, are you shipping Priority Mail or Media Mail?
I don't have any experience shipping comics via UPS, but I have done a lot of shipping through the USPS. Generally, I offer my buyers the choice of Media Mail or Priority Mail. Either way, I always include Delivery Confirmation, which doesn't cost much more, and you can include that in your handling fee.
For sending a single book, or even up to five books, you can use USPS Flat-Rate Priority Mail envelopes, which are free. These are great to use for your Priority Mail customers. You can order other Priority Mail boxes for free as well through the USPS website, and I'd recommend you do so -- especially flat-rate boxes, which can, in some instances (when a lot of books are being shipped) cost less to ship than Media Mail rate! You should also get some of the Priority Mail Tyvek envelopes, too -- they're great for sizes that are too big for the flat-rate envelopes, but too small (or light) to take advantage of the flat-rate boxes.
OK, now for supplies. I can't stress enough that recycling is a great way to go for this kind of stuff. Around our house, whenever we get anything shipped here that comes with bubble wrap, I collect it all (unless it's too small to be of use) and stash it in my office. If you don't get many packages, you may need to buy some... and if you're going to be selling a lot of books, it can be worth your while to go to Office Depot or Office Max and buy a larger package of bubble wrap.
Save all the corrugated cardboard boxes you get, too... even if they're not the right size, you can still use them -- you can cut pieces that are about 1/2 an inch wider and taller than a comic book, and put books between these before putting them in an envelope (you can use the bubble wrap around the books before putting the cardboard around them). You can often find cardboard boxes in recycling bins, too -- and comic book shops always have boxes every week from their new shipments that you should be able to get (some of these will be the perfect size for comics, too!).
Save any packing peanuts you get, too... they're a good, lightweight way to fill in spaces in a box and prevent stuff from moving around. If you check with some smaller stores in your area, you may even find some of them always have to throw out their packing peanuts because they don't ship anything out (in Tacoma, there was a costume shop that called me when they had a garbage bag full of packing peanuts so I could pick them up).
If you can't get packing peanuts, ask your local newspaper if you can get the rolls of leftover paper from their press runs. They're usually happy to give these away to anyone who asks for them... wadding up some of this can fill in empty space in a box without adding to the weight.
Some stuff you'll have to shop for are envelopes. Padded envelopes are nice to have (and eliminate the need for bubble wrap). Good places to buy these are your local dollar stores, where I've found 8.5 x 11 two-packs for a buck, as well as any liquidation store (I don't recall ever seeing them at Big Lots, but I have bought them at other non-chain liquidation stores). If you buy them by the case, you can usually cut a great deal (when I was selling records, I found the perfect size at a liquidation store, and they were about half a buck each by the case).
Manilla envelopes also work, too -- if you're shipping a single book media mail, placing it between two pieces of corrugated cardboard and then into a manilla envelope will be plenty of protection. I've found these at Big Lots, and other liquidation stores are good for those, too.
Another Dollar Store item you can find is the brown paper used for wrapping packages. When I've had to cut a box down to a custom size, I'll often wrap it in the paper -- this eliminates the need for covering up any markings on the boxes (a requirement for shipping). I've even done this for smaller packages where I just had a few books bubble wrapped together, then cardboard on either side, then wrapped in the packaging paper.
You can find packaging tape at the Dollar Stores sometimes, too, but it's more cost-effective to get it at an office store... buy a multi-pack of fillers that come with a reusable dispenser.
I'd also recommend getting some label paper, too, so you can print out your address labels on the computer and peel the backing off to put on your packages. This just looks better, and you can easily add a reference number to the label (with, say, the item number from the auction).
The only other piece of equipment I can recommend getting is some kind of scale. Don't feel you have to buy a postal scale -- they're pretty expensive! It's much more cost-effective to buy a food scale! After all, you just need to know how much it weighs to the nearest pound without going over it! Any package that's going to be too heavy for a food scale (mine goes to 10 lbs) can go on your bathrooom scale.
Whenever you do your packaging, always bear in mind that you don't want any adhesive to contact the comics themselves. Having the books in bags will help eliminate this from happening. If you anticipate selling multiple books to a single bidder, buy some magazine-size comics bags, and you can fit a fair amount of books in one of them. If your books are all bagged or slabbed anyway, you won't have anything to worry about!
Always make sure your packaging is secure... there shouldn't be any place on the package that could get caught on a corner and torn open. Don't go overboard on the tape -- just make sure you use it wisely.
I always recommend figuring out your shipping costs before listing your items -- don't make people ask! And offering that choice between Priority Mail and Media Mail buys you some goodwill, too.
Oh, when you prepare your mailing labels, I recommend putting on the bottom of the label how it's going to be shipped (this saves time at the post office). If you're using Delivery Confirmation or other confirmation, have a stash of the forms at home, and fill them out and put them on the package before you leave. If you're going to have a package insured, I usually put the code "I" with a number after it on the label, so I know how much it'll be insured for. The more organized you are at the post office, the faster it'll go, and the less dirty looks you'll get from people waiting in line for you to finish!!
Any questions you might have on any of this, please let me know, and I'll be happy to amplify or explain anything in more detail!
Jon
The first thing to consider is how you're planning on shipping your books. Are you going to ship UPS, or through the Post Office? If through the Post Office, are you shipping Priority Mail or Media Mail?
I don't have any experience shipping comics via UPS, but I have done a lot of shipping through the USPS. Generally, I offer my buyers the choice of Media Mail or Priority Mail. Either way, I always include Delivery Confirmation, which doesn't cost much more, and you can include that in your handling fee.
For sending a single book, or even up to five books, you can use USPS Flat-Rate Priority Mail envelopes, which are free. These are great to use for your Priority Mail customers. You can order other Priority Mail boxes for free as well through the USPS website, and I'd recommend you do so -- especially flat-rate boxes, which can, in some instances (when a lot of books are being shipped) cost less to ship than Media Mail rate! You should also get some of the Priority Mail Tyvek envelopes, too -- they're great for sizes that are too big for the flat-rate envelopes, but too small (or light) to take advantage of the flat-rate boxes.
OK, now for supplies. I can't stress enough that recycling is a great way to go for this kind of stuff. Around our house, whenever we get anything shipped here that comes with bubble wrap, I collect it all (unless it's too small to be of use) and stash it in my office. If you don't get many packages, you may need to buy some... and if you're going to be selling a lot of books, it can be worth your while to go to Office Depot or Office Max and buy a larger package of bubble wrap.
Save all the corrugated cardboard boxes you get, too... even if they're not the right size, you can still use them -- you can cut pieces that are about 1/2 an inch wider and taller than a comic book, and put books between these before putting them in an envelope (you can use the bubble wrap around the books before putting the cardboard around them). You can often find cardboard boxes in recycling bins, too -- and comic book shops always have boxes every week from their new shipments that you should be able to get (some of these will be the perfect size for comics, too!).
Save any packing peanuts you get, too... they're a good, lightweight way to fill in spaces in a box and prevent stuff from moving around. If you check with some smaller stores in your area, you may even find some of them always have to throw out their packing peanuts because they don't ship anything out (in Tacoma, there was a costume shop that called me when they had a garbage bag full of packing peanuts so I could pick them up).
If you can't get packing peanuts, ask your local newspaper if you can get the rolls of leftover paper from their press runs. They're usually happy to give these away to anyone who asks for them... wadding up some of this can fill in empty space in a box without adding to the weight.
Some stuff you'll have to shop for are envelopes. Padded envelopes are nice to have (and eliminate the need for bubble wrap). Good places to buy these are your local dollar stores, where I've found 8.5 x 11 two-packs for a buck, as well as any liquidation store (I don't recall ever seeing them at Big Lots, but I have bought them at other non-chain liquidation stores). If you buy them by the case, you can usually cut a great deal (when I was selling records, I found the perfect size at a liquidation store, and they were about half a buck each by the case).
Manilla envelopes also work, too -- if you're shipping a single book media mail, placing it between two pieces of corrugated cardboard and then into a manilla envelope will be plenty of protection. I've found these at Big Lots, and other liquidation stores are good for those, too.
Another Dollar Store item you can find is the brown paper used for wrapping packages. When I've had to cut a box down to a custom size, I'll often wrap it in the paper -- this eliminates the need for covering up any markings on the boxes (a requirement for shipping). I've even done this for smaller packages where I just had a few books bubble wrapped together, then cardboard on either side, then wrapped in the packaging paper.
You can find packaging tape at the Dollar Stores sometimes, too, but it's more cost-effective to get it at an office store... buy a multi-pack of fillers that come with a reusable dispenser.
I'd also recommend getting some label paper, too, so you can print out your address labels on the computer and peel the backing off to put on your packages. This just looks better, and you can easily add a reference number to the label (with, say, the item number from the auction).
The only other piece of equipment I can recommend getting is some kind of scale. Don't feel you have to buy a postal scale -- they're pretty expensive! It's much more cost-effective to buy a food scale! After all, you just need to know how much it weighs to the nearest pound without going over it! Any package that's going to be too heavy for a food scale (mine goes to 10 lbs) can go on your bathrooom scale.
Whenever you do your packaging, always bear in mind that you don't want any adhesive to contact the comics themselves. Having the books in bags will help eliminate this from happening. If you anticipate selling multiple books to a single bidder, buy some magazine-size comics bags, and you can fit a fair amount of books in one of them. If your books are all bagged or slabbed anyway, you won't have anything to worry about!
Always make sure your packaging is secure... there shouldn't be any place on the package that could get caught on a corner and torn open. Don't go overboard on the tape -- just make sure you use it wisely.
I always recommend figuring out your shipping costs before listing your items -- don't make people ask! And offering that choice between Priority Mail and Media Mail buys you some goodwill, too.
Oh, when you prepare your mailing labels, I recommend putting on the bottom of the label how it's going to be shipped (this saves time at the post office). If you're using Delivery Confirmation or other confirmation, have a stash of the forms at home, and fill them out and put them on the package before you leave. If you're going to have a package insured, I usually put the code "I" with a number after it on the label, so I know how much it'll be insured for. The more organized you are at the post office, the faster it'll go, and the less dirty looks you'll get from people waiting in line for you to finish!!
Any questions you might have on any of this, please let me know, and I'll be happy to amplify or explain anything in more detail!
Jon
An Open Letter to All Comics Publishers (but Mainly Marvel, DC and Archie)
I've been doing a lot of thinking the past few days about the men and women who were there in the Golden and Silver Age of Comics, and what they did for the industry that's still felt today.
People like Siegel, Shuster, Kirby, Simon, DeCarlo, and many, many others -- too many for me to list them all here -- who created comics as we know them, coming up with characters and stories that still live on today.
I would like to call on Marvel, DC and Archie Comics to take the time to consider taking some steps which would absolutely cost them some money, but I think the goodwill and karma would live on, and reward them even further.
Gentlemen, you know there were creative people who came up with Superman, Batman, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Archie, etc. These were people who were paid a pittance for their creations, and many of them were eventually forced out of the industry... some of them spent the final years of their lives struggling to make a living, while you, the comics publishers, continued to make profits on their creations.
It's well known how Siegel and Shuster, for example, never received anything close to what they were truly owed for the creation of Superman, a character which made the comics industry, and without which, there might not be a comics industry today.
Some starts were made, back in the 1970s, when a small sum began to be paid to Siegel and Shuster... and yes, there are reprint rates paid today, but again, a very small amount.
I want to call on all comics publishers to recognize how important the creators of their characters were to them, and to take a small portion of their annual profits (say, five percent), and divide this amount among the creators or their estates in recognition of what they have done. These profits shouldn't just come from selling of comics and trade paperbacks, but also include all licensing, whether it be toys, movies, TV shows, or whatever.
In those instances where a dispute has arisen in recent years regarding ownership of characters, I call on you to come to some kind of financial agreement to put this dispute aside. DC, cut a huge whopping check to the Siegel and Shuster estates for the creation of Superboy... say, a million dollars. If you want to think of this as also including for the creation of Superman, so be it. But that doesn't let you out of an annual payment, either! Marvel, cut a huge check to Joe Simon and the Kirby Estate for the creation of Captain America.
While you're at it, make a payment to Bob Kane and Bill Finger's estates for Batman, Bill Everett's estate for Sub-Mariner, and so on and so forth.
If you want to, take advantage of the opportunity to get all kinds of public recognition for doing this. Present the checks in person to representatives of the estates, or the creators themselves, at Wizard World Chicago or the San Diego Comic Con, in front of a huge audience.
Don't get all whiny about the kind of money that would be laid out for this all at once. It's simply the right thing to do.
It's something the heroes you publish would do.
Jon B. Knutson
People like Siegel, Shuster, Kirby, Simon, DeCarlo, and many, many others -- too many for me to list them all here -- who created comics as we know them, coming up with characters and stories that still live on today.
I would like to call on Marvel, DC and Archie Comics to take the time to consider taking some steps which would absolutely cost them some money, but I think the goodwill and karma would live on, and reward them even further.
Gentlemen, you know there were creative people who came up with Superman, Batman, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Archie, etc. These were people who were paid a pittance for their creations, and many of them were eventually forced out of the industry... some of them spent the final years of their lives struggling to make a living, while you, the comics publishers, continued to make profits on their creations.
It's well known how Siegel and Shuster, for example, never received anything close to what they were truly owed for the creation of Superman, a character which made the comics industry, and without which, there might not be a comics industry today.
Some starts were made, back in the 1970s, when a small sum began to be paid to Siegel and Shuster... and yes, there are reprint rates paid today, but again, a very small amount.
I want to call on all comics publishers to recognize how important the creators of their characters were to them, and to take a small portion of their annual profits (say, five percent), and divide this amount among the creators or their estates in recognition of what they have done. These profits shouldn't just come from selling of comics and trade paperbacks, but also include all licensing, whether it be toys, movies, TV shows, or whatever.
In those instances where a dispute has arisen in recent years regarding ownership of characters, I call on you to come to some kind of financial agreement to put this dispute aside. DC, cut a huge whopping check to the Siegel and Shuster estates for the creation of Superboy... say, a million dollars. If you want to think of this as also including for the creation of Superman, so be it. But that doesn't let you out of an annual payment, either! Marvel, cut a huge check to Joe Simon and the Kirby Estate for the creation of Captain America.
While you're at it, make a payment to Bob Kane and Bill Finger's estates for Batman, Bill Everett's estate for Sub-Mariner, and so on and so forth.
If you want to, take advantage of the opportunity to get all kinds of public recognition for doing this. Present the checks in person to representatives of the estates, or the creators themselves, at Wizard World Chicago or the San Diego Comic Con, in front of a huge audience.
Don't get all whiny about the kind of money that would be laid out for this all at once. It's simply the right thing to do.
It's something the heroes you publish would do.
Jon B. Knutson
Regarding the Trivia Contest Post Below...
...I'm having second thoughts about a JLA Signal Device being one of the props.
Why? Because I'm having an impossible time finding a decent picture of a decent-looking JLA device, that's why!
I did find a scan of the panel where Snapper Carr gets his signal device, but it's basically a blue circle with "JLA" written on it... doesn't look cool at all!
Oh, and there's the flat round JLI one... but that looks like a smoke detector, y'know.
I could've sworn there was a cool-looking JLA signal device I could mock up... but I appear to be mistaken.
So, it seems I'll need to come up with a different DC-related item... although in a pinch, I could buy a cheap watch and say it's Jimmy Olsen's Superman Signal Watch, and use it the same as I planned for the JLA signal device (although I'd prefer it if I could use a watch that, if you press a button, makes a "zee-zee-zee" sound... but then again, only Superman is supposed to be able to hear it, right?
Jon
Why? Because I'm having an impossible time finding a decent picture of a decent-looking JLA device, that's why!
I did find a scan of the panel where Snapper Carr gets his signal device, but it's basically a blue circle with "JLA" written on it... doesn't look cool at all!
Oh, and there's the flat round JLI one... but that looks like a smoke detector, y'know.
I could've sworn there was a cool-looking JLA signal device I could mock up... but I appear to be mistaken.
So, it seems I'll need to come up with a different DC-related item... although in a pinch, I could buy a cheap watch and say it's Jimmy Olsen's Superman Signal Watch, and use it the same as I planned for the JLA signal device (although I'd prefer it if I could use a watch that, if you press a button, makes a "zee-zee-zee" sound... but then again, only Superman is supposed to be able to hear it, right?
Jon
Latest on the Trivia Contest!
So, I've come up with some new twists for the upcoming trivia contest at Emerald City Comic Con...
As you may recall, it's already rigged in favor of the fan teams (fan teams always get to answer first)... but I want to make it even more interesting!
So... at the beginning of each game, the fan teams will get to choose from one of a number of props recreated from the comics! These props can be used during the game, but they won't know what it does until after they've chosen them.
I already have one prop... Barry Allen's Flash Ring. I'm also planning on making up a JLA signal device, a Cosmic Cube, Red Kryptonite... and I need at least two other items. Of course, they'll have to be things that I can easily recreate with some authenticity.
I'm not 100% sure what I'll be doing with the Cosmic Cube. It might just be a white cube, or I may rig up some kind of light effect in it (it's all a matter of what I can come up with).
The Red Kryptonite I'm hoping to make work like a Magic 8-Ball, so it can have strange and unexpected effects when used!
Strategic use of the chosen item could have a major effect on the game... so I hope the fan teams use them wisely... and of course, have fun with them!
Jon
As you may recall, it's already rigged in favor of the fan teams (fan teams always get to answer first)... but I want to make it even more interesting!
So... at the beginning of each game, the fan teams will get to choose from one of a number of props recreated from the comics! These props can be used during the game, but they won't know what it does until after they've chosen them.
I already have one prop... Barry Allen's Flash Ring. I'm also planning on making up a JLA signal device, a Cosmic Cube, Red Kryptonite... and I need at least two other items. Of course, they'll have to be things that I can easily recreate with some authenticity.
I'm not 100% sure what I'll be doing with the Cosmic Cube. It might just be a white cube, or I may rig up some kind of light effect in it (it's all a matter of what I can come up with).
The Red Kryptonite I'm hoping to make work like a Magic 8-Ball, so it can have strange and unexpected effects when used!
Strategic use of the chosen item could have a major effect on the game... so I hope the fan teams use them wisely... and of course, have fun with them!
Jon
Latest on the Foster Parenting...
So, I finished up my interview for foster parenting this morning, and I'm pretty sure it went very well. Now, our licensor has to write up all her notes and present them to her supervisor, who will sign off on our license!
In the meantime, we've got an all-new set of things we need to do for adoption! Our first assignment is to create a scrapbook type of thing, showing who we are! Photos should include pictures of us doing things, pictures of the house, family, etc.
Jessi's the scrapbooker of the family, so I'm sure she'll be doing most of the efforts there!
Jon
In the meantime, we've got an all-new set of things we need to do for adoption! Our first assignment is to create a scrapbook type of thing, showing who we are! Photos should include pictures of us doing things, pictures of the house, family, etc.
Jessi's the scrapbooker of the family, so I'm sure she'll be doing most of the efforts there!
Jon
TV Comic of the Day
For the longest time, all I really knew about Secret Agent was that it was the show Patrick McGoohan did before The Prisoner (and which many people consider the Prisoner to be a continuation of)... and it had (in the US, at least) the very cool "Secret Agent Man" theme song that remains one of my favorite oldies songs.
But a long time ago, I actually got a chance to watch an episode or two of it. I'm not really sure what I expected, although I do recall feeling slightly disappointed. I'd read about the show in my readings about The Prisoner, but didn't remember many details... and I remember even less of the episodes I saw!
Jon
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier
This was a two-hour special I DVR'ed from The History Channel earlier this week, and just finished watching today. The main focus of the program was the Christie's auction of original Trek props, costumes, sets and models (drool, drool), but they also covered the history of Star Trek (although, like with all other Trek specials I've watched on The History Channel, there's absolutely zero mention of the animated series).
It was a fun program to watch... I'd heard a few comments from people who saw it talking about some of the outlandish Trekkies on the special, but there really weren't that many... and the "worst" ones were the couple who named their poodles Data and Tasha Yar (yeah, I know, I named my dog Krypto, but at least Krypto is a dog's name, y'know!).
If you get the History Channel, check your local listings to see if it'll be repeated... I think you'll like it!
The only real problem with watching all this Trek-related stuff is... I've found myself with a yen for some Star Trek stuff on my shelves... most notably, full-size replicas of original series communicator, tricorder, and phaser (as well as Next Gen versions of the phaser and tricorder)... so long as they make the appropriate flashing lights and noises!
Remember back when Playmates had the Trek toy license? I was collecting their stuff like crazy... bought the action figures, the playsets, the ships, and of course, their phaser and tricorder toys! And yes, I did take them all out of the packages... heck, I basically played with 'em!
Maybe I'll have to look for some of that stuff on the eBay...
Jon
It was a fun program to watch... I'd heard a few comments from people who saw it talking about some of the outlandish Trekkies on the special, but there really weren't that many... and the "worst" ones were the couple who named their poodles Data and Tasha Yar (yeah, I know, I named my dog Krypto, but at least Krypto is a dog's name, y'know!).
If you get the History Channel, check your local listings to see if it'll be repeated... I think you'll like it!
The only real problem with watching all this Trek-related stuff is... I've found myself with a yen for some Star Trek stuff on my shelves... most notably, full-size replicas of original series communicator, tricorder, and phaser (as well as Next Gen versions of the phaser and tricorder)... so long as they make the appropriate flashing lights and noises!
Remember back when Playmates had the Trek toy license? I was collecting their stuff like crazy... bought the action figures, the playsets, the ships, and of course, their phaser and tricorder toys! And yes, I did take them all out of the packages... heck, I basically played with 'em!
Maybe I'll have to look for some of that stuff on the eBay...
Jon
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Quick Updates...
So, as I continue to try to catch up for time lost while being sick... a few short thoughts:
1. I'm really enjoying the hell out of catching up on Star Trek: Enterprise. When I first saw the pilot episode, I wasn't that thrilled with it... I was concerned that they'd start contradicting stuff that was established in later (timewise) Trek series, for starters. And yes, they did do that (they had the first contact with the Ferengi, although none of the crew learned their race's name, for example). However, the more I've been watching it now (having stopped watching it originally after the pilot), the more I've been enjoying it.
2. Still quite a bit bummed about missing the Portland comic convention. But looking forward to Emerald City!
3. Work is picking up a bit. Yesterday (Tuesday) was surprisingly slow, but I was much busier today (Wednesday). We'll see how the rest of the week turns out. I should be getting my review (finally) this week!
4. Tomorrow (Thursday) I'll be finishing up my interview for the foster parent licensing... which should be the final step for foster parenting. I think the next thing will be we get the license... and then we'll start working on the requirements for adoption!
5. Since I have to get up early tomorrow for that interview, I'm calling it a night now!
Jon
1. I'm really enjoying the hell out of catching up on Star Trek: Enterprise. When I first saw the pilot episode, I wasn't that thrilled with it... I was concerned that they'd start contradicting stuff that was established in later (timewise) Trek series, for starters. And yes, they did do that (they had the first contact with the Ferengi, although none of the crew learned their race's name, for example). However, the more I've been watching it now (having stopped watching it originally after the pilot), the more I've been enjoying it.
2. Still quite a bit bummed about missing the Portland comic convention. But looking forward to Emerald City!
3. Work is picking up a bit. Yesterday (Tuesday) was surprisingly slow, but I was much busier today (Wednesday). We'll see how the rest of the week turns out. I should be getting my review (finally) this week!
4. Tomorrow (Thursday) I'll be finishing up my interview for the foster parent licensing... which should be the final step for foster parenting. I think the next thing will be we get the license... and then we'll start working on the requirements for adoption!
5. Since I have to get up early tomorrow for that interview, I'm calling it a night now!
Jon
TV Comic Cover of the Day!
I'd imagine few, if any of you, remember this very short-lived TV show from Hanna-Barbera. It was of its era... which is to say, from a time when the face of Saturday morning television was searching for something, anything, which would produce the next big hit (as H-B had done before with Scooby-Doo).
Now, you will likely recall that Scooby-Doo spawned a host of H-B imitators (like Goober and the Ghost Chasers, The Funky Phantom, etc.), each with their own gimmick. Did the Roman Holidays spawn any imitations? Heck, no! It was itself an imitation... of H-B's original prime-time success, The Flintstones. This show was basically the Flintstones (or the Jetsons, if you will) in the Roman Empire (albiet very sanitized for kiddie tv, natch!). H-B also tried "These Are The Days," which took place in the Roaring 20s or so, although that was also rather influenced by the Waltons.
A bigger trend in that 1970s period was adapting prime-time TV shows into cartoons. Filmation did a lot of these kind of shows (My Favorite Martians, Star Trek the Animated Series, etc), but H-B did a number of 'em, as well (such as the Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley cartoons). Another trend was dinosaurs, which we'll get around to covering in later posts.
Jon
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Another blog I need to add to the links sometime...
A new blog, just recently started, Misce-Looney-Ous. features Looney Tunes merchandise you might not have seen!
And have I pointed you towards Wil Wheaton's blog? yes, he doesn't just post hiliarous retro-reviews of Star Trek:TNG episodes on TV Squad!
If not, I probably haven't pointed you towards Len Wein's blog, either.
Or to Comics Make No Sense.
Probably a few other blogs I've got bookmarked (as well as other links) I should add soon!
Jon
And have I pointed you towards Wil Wheaton's blog? yes, he doesn't just post hiliarous retro-reviews of Star Trek:TNG episodes on TV Squad!
If not, I probably haven't pointed you towards Len Wein's blog, either.
Or to Comics Make No Sense.
Probably a few other blogs I've got bookmarked (as well as other links) I should add soon!
Jon
eBay Auctions I Don't Make a Dime From...
Patrick Owsley, whose blog I link to on the list to the right, has a bunch of eBay auctions going now of some stuff he's done...
...and man, I wish I had the cash to bid or even buy it now on some of those! Especially his Beatles animated and Popeye pieces.
Jon
...and man, I wish I had the cash to bid or even buy it now on some of those! Especially his Beatles animated and Popeye pieces.
Jon
In Which Your Humble Blogger Whines About Being Sick...
So, if you've been wondering why I hadn't posted anything since Saturday... or if you've been wondering why you didn't see me at the Portland Comic-Con...
...it's because I caught that stomach flu that Jessi already had. It hit me Saturday night, and let's just say that it wasn't pretty. Fortunately, the upchucking was over by Sunday morning (unfortunately, no so for one of the other symptoms). Also unfortunate was how weak that Saturday night sickfest left me... I got out of bed on Sunday morning, went downstairs to the living room, sat down on a chair... and realized I'd worked up a sweat just doing that! Wiped out? You can bet on it. I think I averaged being awake for about 45 minutes, then I'd fall asleep for a half hour to an hour... and then back and forth pretty much all day.
I didn't feel like trying to eat anything at all until late Sunday night, when I had some bread, and later a 100-calorie nutrition bar.
Monday morning, I was still pretty much wiped out, so I called in sick for work, and spent the day on the couch again, mostly sleeping (although I was eating more than the day before).
Have I mentioned how much I hate being sick? Especially when I'm too wiped out to even keep up on blogging and reading blogs?
Jon
...it's because I caught that stomach flu that Jessi already had. It hit me Saturday night, and let's just say that it wasn't pretty. Fortunately, the upchucking was over by Sunday morning (unfortunately, no so for one of the other symptoms). Also unfortunate was how weak that Saturday night sickfest left me... I got out of bed on Sunday morning, went downstairs to the living room, sat down on a chair... and realized I'd worked up a sweat just doing that! Wiped out? You can bet on it. I think I averaged being awake for about 45 minutes, then I'd fall asleep for a half hour to an hour... and then back and forth pretty much all day.
I didn't feel like trying to eat anything at all until late Sunday night, when I had some bread, and later a 100-calorie nutrition bar.
Monday morning, I was still pretty much wiped out, so I called in sick for work, and spent the day on the couch again, mostly sleeping (although I was eating more than the day before).
Have I mentioned how much I hate being sick? Especially when I'm too wiped out to even keep up on blogging and reading blogs?
Jon
TV Comic(s) Of The Day - Three-Fer to Catch Up!
Yes, I'm way behind on posting... I'll explain what's up with that tonight.
In the meantime, here's your TV Comics of the Day for the past three days:
Did you know that Mister Ed was created by the same person who came up with Francis the Talking Mule? And that George Burns was one of the people who helped finance the show?
Next up...
Hey, hey, it's the Monkees! A lot of people seem to be unware there was a Monkees comic book at all, believe it or not. I do seem to recall seeing a paperback-sized reprint of some of these stories, but it's been ages since I've seen any Monkees comics.
And finally...
One of the Flintstone "revivals" on TV was the show the above comic was based on, whereupon we saw what happened with the title duo when they were teenagers (apparently, Bamm-Bamm is still amazingly strong, but doesn't seem capable of committing himself to any one woman).
It's funny how the trend that they tried to start with this show (and, to another extent, the Tabitha spin-off from Bewitched) -- that of making child characters older in the new show -- got entirely flipped around (was it Muppet Babies that was the first show to show "grown-up" characters as babies or toddlers? I know there were some super-tot toys in the 1970s, but no show for them).
Jon
In the meantime, here's your TV Comics of the Day for the past three days:
Did you know that Mister Ed was created by the same person who came up with Francis the Talking Mule? And that George Burns was one of the people who helped finance the show?
Next up...
Hey, hey, it's the Monkees! A lot of people seem to be unware there was a Monkees comic book at all, believe it or not. I do seem to recall seeing a paperback-sized reprint of some of these stories, but it's been ages since I've seen any Monkees comics.
And finally...
One of the Flintstone "revivals" on TV was the show the above comic was based on, whereupon we saw what happened with the title duo when they were teenagers (apparently, Bamm-Bamm is still amazingly strong, but doesn't seem capable of committing himself to any one woman).
It's funny how the trend that they tried to start with this show (and, to another extent, the Tabitha spin-off from Bewitched) -- that of making child characters older in the new show -- got entirely flipped around (was it Muppet Babies that was the first show to show "grown-up" characters as babies or toddlers? I know there were some super-tot toys in the 1970s, but no show for them).
Jon
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