We'd like to thank you all for reading in 2014, and hope that we can all pick each other up when we need it.
Things tend to get a little quiet around the holiday season in this business. News quiets down, TV shows go on hiatus, and it leaves us to reflect on the year. While we’re all fans of everything that makes the entertainment machine go ‘round, it’s good to remember how fortunate we are that the heaviest issue we have to deal with around here on any given day is anxiety over the next Star Wars movie or something similarly insignificant. 2014 was a turbulent year in the “real” world, and perhaps some small acts of kindness can help tilt the balance back towards the forces of good.
Please spare a thought for people you know who may be suffering quietly with depression. If you can't find joy in the things you love, or feel lonely during the Christmas season, you can reach out. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. You can also click to chat with someone who wants to help. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention have a host of resources available as well, right here.
Please remember, you aren't truly alone. Do not underestimate the support you might find online, either. You’d be amazed at how many of the people you casually interact with, whether in person or on the internet (and that extends to the community of DoGcommentors), are willing to listen.
We’ve also compiled a small list of charities near to our hearts.
The American Diabetes Association
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
Comic book creator Seth Kushner is battling leukemia. You can help with his medical bills here.
If none of these are to your liking, please consider your local food pantries, animal shelters, or homeless outreach organizations, many of whom may need some extra volunteers around Christmas. Suggest more in the comments if you'd like, but remember that links will sometimes get tangled in our moderation system for a bit!
On a personal note, I owe countless thanks to the Den of Geek team. David Crow, Chris Longo, John Saavedra, Don Kaye, Gavin Jasper, Joe Jasko, and Tony Sokol deal with me all day and make sure there’s actually a front page every morning. Jennifer Bartner Indeck, Bobby Bernstein, and Matthew Sullivan-Pond somehow manage to keep the lights on...no matter how hard I try and sabotage them. Simon Brew has been extraordinarily supportive as we continue to raise the DoG flag on this side of the Atlantic. The legion of contributors who bring you the stories you enjoy (and who put up with my occasional bout of editorial absent-mindedness with a shrug and a smile) all help make this possible and deserve more gratitude than this space allows.
The Den of Geek US audience grew tremendously in 2014, and it’s a pleasure to do what we do for you every day. Thank you for reading. Here's to 2015!