Canadian National Expo Draws a record 36,753 fans! Thank you!

[That Ron Dude]

I think of our city as much worse than Buffalo and El Paso and only marginally better than New Orleans. I don't know why people keep moving to Toronto and why tourism continues to be the largest industry in this otherwise very wealthy city.

 

Hey, I bought real estate downtown twenty years ago. It's gone up more than a silver age Marvel in 9.6.

[Kevin Boyd]

Have they cleaned it up in the last ten years? I've only been to two worse places, Buffalo and El Paso.

 

Seeing as I live here, like to live here, and that Toronto is one of the top tourist destinations in North America, and that it ranks high as one of the best cities in the world in which to live I would say yes, it's quite clean.

 

I've been to some real holes... Buffalo being one. Downtown Detroit gives me nightmares. Baltimore's downtown had a lot of rough patches.

 

That being said, I've never been to Sante Fe, so I can't draw a valid comparison.

[That Ron Dude]

Here is something nice about AMAN: Before Aman started his convention many others had attempted two day conventions in Toronto. Many succeeded in that people had a lot of fun but none of them made any money. So there would only be one or two at the most, by the same promoter. When Aman came on the scene 10 years ago you could tell that his summer convention was a financial as well as an artistic success and that there would be another the next year. People were happy. Furthermore, he has given ME a free pass every year for the past 10 years as well as passes for everyone in my family. I am the smallest of the small time pros in Toronto-- most of my credits are for lettering black and white comics 20 years ago-- but I still get a free table and a free meal out of his organization every year. How can I not feel loyal to the guy? I don't attract anyone to the show but he is still awfully nice to me as a member of the Toronto small time professional comic book community. At the Toronto con there are dozens and dozens of so called pros-- like me-- who are given tables and a free meal at "industry night". My deepest thanks for 10 years of serving the Toronto community

[That Ron Dude]

Here is something nice about PETE: Pete has by far the best comic shop in Toronto. Through his hard work he finds collections that other stores can't and he puts them up at prices that beat the pants off the other comic stores. Aside from trips to the The Beguiling, another excellent store, but one that doesn't cater as much to my personal interests, PETE'S PARADISE COMICS is the only store that I go to. He is also willing to negotiate price on collectable comics and values his long time customers. Whenever I see PETE at an out of town convention, where I have purchased from a competitive dealer, I show him my purchase, tell him my price and he responds, "You can't beat that". At his Paradise conventions I have gotten a thrill that I have not had since I was a teenager attending the Phil Sueling conventions in New York City. Old friends that I have not seen in years because they don't generally attend comic conventions have come by, the Shuster awards recognized the efforts of Canadian creators, I get to talk to professionals that I rarely see, and I got the same access to the Green Room as the most important guests. Thanks to Pete, I was able to attend a lesson on inking from Joe Rubinstein. I have bought old comics from dealers that had never crossed the border before. He gave me chits for video games at an "entertainment district" club at no small expense to him. And again, all the convention freebies are given to me though I am the smallest of the small time pros and I attract no one to his convention.

[That Ron Dude]

Finally, it is to my advantage, and to the advantage of our very insular comic book community, to keep both of these shows healthy. But I know that there are very real reasons why the tension between the two camps continues. This makes me sad.

[Miser-migration]

I thought you were making a serious crack at us... We have NEVER allowed pornstar/strippers in our event...

 

hsm

 

That's funny. I guess it must have been just my imagination that I said hello to Traci Lords at her table in your show a few years ago.

[hsm]

Miser, you gotta be kidding me... Another sh-t disturber... Traci Lords was the leading star of the scifi series, FIRST WAVE... That was the purpose of her being there... She wasnt allowed to sign any of that stuff... Though I dont think she would sign it regardless...

 

Instead of coming up with bulls--t, why dont you come up with something constructive...

 

hsm

[Ares]

I thought you were making a serious crack at us... We have NEVER allowed pornstar/strippers in our event...

 

hsm

 

That's funny. I guess it must have been just my imagination that I said hello to Traci Lords at her table in your show a few years ago.

 

Traci Isnt a Porn Star

She is a legitimate actress of real sci fi films & TV shows

[hsm]

Ron,

 

Thanks for the compliments... You are a good guy...

 

cheers...

hsm

[arexcrooke]

Miser, you gotta be kidding me... Another sh-t disturber... Traci Lords was the leading star of the scifi series, FIRST WAVE... That was the purpose of her being there... She wasnt allowed to sign any of that stuff... Though I dont think she would sign it regardless...

 

Instead of coming up with bulls--t, why dont you come up with something constructive...

 

hsm

So people just forgot that she was a pornstar?

Sorry hsm, but she was a porn star and that draws people to her.

[Ares]

Miser, you gotta be kidding me... Another sh-t disturber... Traci Lords was the leading star of the scifi series, FIRST WAVE... That was the purpose of her being there... She wasnt allowed to sign any of that stuff... Though I dont think she would sign it regardless...

 

Instead of coming up with bulls--t, why dont you come up with something constructive...

 

hsm

the man has a point miser

first wave is a legitimate show

[Ares]

Miser, you gotta be kidding me... Another sh-t disturber... Traci Lords was the leading star of the scifi series, FIRST WAVE... That was the purpose of her being there... She wasnt allowed to sign any of that stuff... Though I dont think she would sign it regardless...

 

Instead of coming up with bulls--t, why dont you come up with something constructive...

 

hsm

So people just forgot that she was a pornstar?

Sorry hsm, but she was a porn star and that draws people to her.

 

empahasis on Was..

 

Not any more there you cant bill her as a porn star

[hsm]

Thank you Ares...

 

hsm

[Miser-migration]

Miser, you gotta be kidding me... Another sh-t disturber... Traci Lords was the leading star of the scifi series, FIRST WAVE... That was the purpose of her being there... She wasnt allowed to sign any of that stuff... Though I dont think she would sign it regardless...

 

Instead of coming up with bulls--t, why dont you come up with something constructive...

 

hsm

 

What, catching your lies isn't constructive? So Wayne Gretzky doesn't play professional hockey anymore, I suppose he's not a hockey star right?

 

You want constructive, how about opening the doors to your show on time for once? Why are you late opening the doors on Friday EVERY SINGLE YEAR? I don't mean 2-3 minutes late, I mean 30-60 minutes late. Do you deny this too? Do you not learn anything from year to year Sherlock?

 

And while I'm being constructive, how about delegating some responsible volunteers to crowd control outside. While you're late opening and we're outside sweltering, there are multiple lines forming and people cutting in front of others left and right. You can't send thousands of people outside to wait on an already busy street in downtown Toronto on a Friday afternoon without an element of crowd control. That's negligence. And no, that one tall sweaty guy you sent out there for 5 minutes doesn't cut it.

 

I'd love to be even more constructive, but my time is money and I'll spare you the embarassment.

[hsm]

Miser,

 

You call that lying? Unlike some people, we dont judge our guests based on their pasts! Her purpose of being there was to promote First Wave... If you cant see that, then you need to get some help...

 

Opening doors on time? that is out of our control... If the exhibitors havent cleared the aisles, we CANT open the doors due to liability risks... We dont want our fans to get hurt, which I am hoping you can understand... We try our best every year, but the show keeps on growing, so there are always unexpected situations that arise... I will apologize for that though... and it is on one of our "needs to be fixed" lists... Things are already in the works to take care of that...

 

Ok smartass, you tell me how you would control 10,000 people who are all trying to get into our show at the same time? Sorry bud, but sending volunteers doesnt cut it... It is a pretty simple premise, you pay for your ticket, and go to the back of the line to gain entry into the show... Most people understand that, but refuse to respect that...

 

If your time means money, then I would save your 2 cents for something that can be considered useful. Your Traci Lords comment, only embarasses you...

 

hsm

[hsm]

and, Wayne Gretzky WAS a superstar... Now he is a legend....

 

hsm

[SignatureSelect]

Actually he is right. Traci Lords was a porn star and she is hot. I met her a few years ago at a dallas show and took a picture with her but I only wanted to meet her because she was a dirty little slut and she F**ked on film. If thinking that is hot is embarassing then count me embarassed. Nobody will ever forget that she did porn no matter how many legitimate projects she does.

[hsm]

ummmm.... that is an interesting thought...

 

hsm

[Ares]

Thank you Ares...

 

hsm

Dont let it go to your head!

I still think your business practices suck, your methods immoral, and a boldfaced liar in some points but in this case and this case only you have a point

[hsm]

ares, you have the right to express your opinions... but boldfaced liar? I think not!

 

hsm