After eating a huge meal (which, of course immediately following I thought to myself “son of a bitch! My weight gets tweeted out every Saturday! I must be a moron!”) I got an email from some I have really grown to respect, and am glad to call friend. (This is after dozens of emails from people I could care less about. Im not mentioning *cough, cough* Josh Flanagan *cough, cough* any names, but trust me, know dont know who you are *cough, cough* Jeffrey Kalmikoff *cough, cough*.) And, yes, Josh and Jeffrey, I know what you are thinking. That you havent emailed me in months.

Well, Josh and Jeffrey, lets me just say, yes, that is true, but I often like to mention your name in between bouts of coughing in totally non sequitur sentences, which are, for all intents and purposes, grammatically incorrect.

And, yes, I am all hopped up on Diet Coke and acting a little bit crazy. Or is it a little bit rock and roll?

Which, brings us back to Ron Richards. Who sent me the email that I read while completely engorged on food, and ruing weight in day.

Ron sent me a link to this video of Jay Adelson, who is one of Ron’s friends and mentors, giving a talk in (Im assuming Detroit because of the Henry Ford reference) entitled “We Need Crazy.” Here watch it:

Of course, if its a bit long, or something you arent really into, there is always this video:

And, while yes, I really just wanted to write a post where the embedding of a video of boobies and kittens made a bit of sense, whats really important is the question that Ron asked.

“What is our crazy?”

You see, Ron, as one of the founders of iFanboy works with me at Graphic.ly. Lately, we have had a lot of discussion about the comic industry, how digital comics fit in the comic industry and what is the best course of action for the company.

“What is our crazy?”

I mean, what kind of question is that to ask me? I mean, ask me “Who is our crazy?” And thats easy. Its Charley. But, “what is our crazy?”

After promising myself to stay away from the computer tonight after 38 hours of work in the past 48 and just read a book, I get this email? Ive been reading James Patterson‘s series Maximum Ride over the past several years. A few more have been published, and I really want to read them. But, dammit Ron, “What is our crazy?” Thanks for screwing up my night. I blame *cough, cough* Josh. Wouldnt you? *cough, cough*

Ron, our crazy is this: We believe that the world is better when connected. That comics do not start and end with the opening and closing of the book. That stories are not owned. That people have an innate desire to learn and share. That the comic book industry, for all its foibles, has the ability to truly make people love what we all love (as kids and now) – Stories. Sharing. Learning. Creativity.

And we will build something that will make that a reality.

Whats our crazy Ron? Its the fact that I get so excited thinking about how to interject wonder back into people’s lives through the art and story telling of comics, that I have held in my desire to pee for the last 45 minutes writing this post.

Gotta go, you are making me crazy.

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