From the very end of this article:

The Ig Nobel for literature went to the Nigerians who introduced millions of e-mail users to a “cast of rich characters … each of whom requires just a small amount of expense money so as to obtain access to the great wealth to which they are entitled.”

You know, when you get right down to it, those spam messages really are a fascinating literary phenomenon. Lies and cons are, after all, just fictions posing as fact. A really, really good lie is probably worth a literary prize.

Of course, we don’t want to go rewarding that kind of behavior. Me, I say the Ig Nobel is too good for them. I’d rather see them all qualifying themselves for Darwin awards.

–Howard

I’m back from Linucon, and I’ve got a new avatar to show for it. This was drawn by one of the guys in Artist’s Alley. I drew a picture of him, too. Boy did HE ever get the short end of that stick.

–Howard

So… I’m sitting in Artists’ Alley drawing Alicia, and we started discussing whether or not I could do caricatures that would make UGLY people happy.

My answer: “I’m sorry. Your money’s no good here. You’re ugly.”

We laughed really hard. I laughed so hard I cried, mostly at the thought that I could put that on a t-shirt I’d wear at my table.

–Howard

High points of Day 2:

1) I drew lots more commissions, and sold some originals this afternoon. I’m pleased with the amount of money I’ve made, and the amount of fun I’ve had making it. This has been, for me anyway, a profitable show. And I’ve got at least three hours to do artwork tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.

2) My morning panel, on online business, went really, really well. Giles Schildt of Steve Jackson Games sat on the panel with me, and we discussed revenue streams, business planning, and the perils of carrying inventory.

3) Dinner with the Connie, Larry, and their crew was delicious. We ate at PappaDeaux (pronounced “Poppa-Doze”), and I had a scrumptious soft-shelled crab. It looked like a great, big, deep-fried bug. It was as much a visual treat as a comestible one.

4) I judged the cosplay. It was a little sparse again this year, with only five entrants, but it was also quite fun. The winners were a pair of guys who cosplayed Tycho and Gabe from Penny Arcade, and they earned their victory. Their costumes were hastily assembled, but accurate, and their performance was over the top. Tycho even ate his iPod mini, right there on stage.

That’s the news. I’ll post pictures in the con report once I’m back.

–Howard