I have not yet passed any comment of substance regarding my visit to Columbus, OH. The weather was unbelievable, the air so hot and humid I felt I was attempting to breathe soup. The course I was there to attend was both engaging and educational, and those with whom I shared it were not above lifting a glass or five of PBR (or Natural Light, when circumstances demanded it) in the night-time hours. I took the opportunity to attend the Ohio State Fair, wherein I witnessed the musical stylings of Mr. Weird Al Yankovic, rode the bumper cars with two lads from Harvard, and beheld the wonder of the World's Smallest Horse (it was pretty small).

Also, while I was in Columbus and preparing for the trip back to LA, I finally took my first timid steps into the world of podcasts (perhaps influenced by Lisl's burgeoning passion for the same). Further motivated by another entertaining evening with Kevin Smith at SDCC (hooray for dog semen!), I have started listening erratically to the SModcast, whilst also occasionally checking in with the boys of Around Comics for news and opinions on the world of funnybooks (links to iTunes). Marvel exclusive artist Skottie Young is a regular contributor to the latter, and I find some of his 'professional' insight particularly engaging.

Last Friday we went to the opening of the new Intelligentsia coffee shop at Sunset Junction. Free coffee, wine and beer (and plenty of well-dressed hipsters) in what turned out to be a pleasingly individual setting. It might prove an enticing alternative to our beloved Casbah Cafe, since it is, after all, Cheese Store-adjacent. Afterwards we went to the late showing of Superbad at the Vista, which delivered everything for which we might have hoped. While I have long been a fan of Mr. Apatow, I do believe that Lisl and myself are now both committed disciples of his good friend, Mr. Rogen.