Parents love the book, and Amazon sales are holding respectably steady. Borders is stocking it, and I’m getting numerous reports of sightings at various indy stores. Nonetheless, I am told that the nation’s largest bookstore chain, Barnes and Noble, has yet to place an order. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m working with a very small publisher without much marketing clout, and the only thing that’s going to keep the Mayor afloat is word of mouth. So, one small favor: if you find yourself in a B&N, ask them to stock the book. Alternately, if you are a buyer for B&N: please stock the book.

… adding: we could also use a hand getting the word out to librarians, who are crucial to the success of a children’s book.

And by “you” I mean, well, you. Me, I think their craziness potential is nearly limitless. But this must mark some sort of milestone along the endless path of escalating crazy:

From John L. Perry at Newsmax:

There is a remote, although gaining, possibility America’s military will intervene as a last resort to resolve the Obama problem. Don’t dismiss it as unrealistic.

America isn’t the Third World. If a military coup does occur here it will be civilized. That it has never happened doesn’t mean it wont. Describing what may be afoot is not to advocate it. So, view the following through military eyes:

Did you get that? Perry doesn’t advocate a military overthrow of the Obama administration, he’s…just sayin’.

UPDATE: apparently someone had second thoughts regarding the wisdom of implictly advocating a military coup.

The Senate today today:

WASHINGTON – In a long-anticipated showdown, liberal Democrats twice failed on Tuesday to inject a government-run insurance option into sweeping health care legislation taking shape in the Senate, despite bipartisan agreement that private insurers must change their ways.

And James Madison explaining more than 200 years ago why the Senate would naturally represent the interests of rich people:

Should experience or public opinion require an equal & universal suffrage for each branch of the Govt., such as prevails generally in the U. S., a resource favorable to the rights of landed & other property, when its possessors become the minority, may be found in an enlargement of the election districts for one branch of the legislature, and an extension of its period of service. Large districts are manifestly favorable to the election of persons of general respectability, and of probable attachment to the rights of property, over competitors depending on the personal solicitations practicable on a contracted theatre. And although an ambitious candidate, of personal distinction, might occasionally recommend himself to popular choice by espousing a popular though unjust object, it might rarely happen to many districts at the same time. The tendency of a longer period of service would be, to render the body more stable in its policy, and more capable of stemming popular currents taking a wrong direction, till reason & justice could regain their ascendancy.

Say what you want about the founding fathers, you can’t claim they weren’t up front about what they were doing.

Language is a virus: a real-life case study.

From the former editor of the Seattle Weekly (entire review here):

Readers of alternative newsweeklies across the country have for years enjoyed the comic strip “This Modern World” by Tom Tomorrow. When I was at Seattle Weekly during the Bush years, we carried the strip and readers sent letters telling me that it kept them sane. No one is better at seeing through the madness of contemporary politics and media than Tom’s wise penguin “Sparky.”

Now, it’s time for another generation. Tom Tomorrow has written his first children’s book, The Very Silly Mayor (Ig Publishing, $17.99). In true Tom Tomorrow style, the book is a terrific civics lesson for kids about the dangers of group-think politics.

And from a librarian posting on Amazon:

More importantly, it passed the little kid test. Since reading them the book it’s become the sort of book that as a parent I have to read over and over yet it doesn’t make me wince or groan every time the kids ask me to read it. Blinky and Sparky are lovable characters for children I’ve learned. In fact, my 1st grader has already brought the book into school for show-and-tell and asks me questions over and over about Biff, Sparky, Blinky and why the Mayor is so silly. As a librarian and parent who is always trying to get kids to love books and parents excited about reading to their children I strongly recommend this book. Librarians take note–I think this would make a fabulous addition to public and elementary school libraries.

That’s, um, interesting.

Shame they didn’t consult the artist on this one. I’m a (bad, amateur) guitar player, and would have loved a chance to design one myself.

Let me know if you see the Very Silly Mayor in brick-and-mortar bookstores. I’m curious to find out who’s stocking it …

Update: it’s at Powell’s in Portland Oregon … already one my favorite bookstores …

I don’t want to jump to conclusions on this story until there’s more definitive information. But it’s a damned ominous development.

Reading (U.K.) music festival (via):

Melbourne, Australia (thanks to reader P.O.):

Another shot of the mural at Easy Street Records in Seattle (via):

And the window display there (via):

And what I think has to be the coolest use of the art so far — note the astronaut drummer on Matt Cameron’s kick drum (via):

Somewhere in Manhattan:

Easy Street Records in Seattle:

And perhaps the most surreal of all — on a Target display:

Note for those inquiring about the poster I designed for the Chicago show: I don’t know when I will have signed/numbered copies available for sale. Unlike some of the other artists PJ works with, I do not print these myself, and have not received my copies yet.

(Post revised from earlier version)